(16 May 2022, 11:10 pm)busmanT wrote I think most of them will go ahead, as Nexus/Durham are very unlikely to replace them on a like for like basis. If Go North East, with its branding, website, app etc. can’t attract enough passengers then local authorities never will.
Perhaps the 29 will remain largely unchanged route, and perhaps with evening and Sunday journeys added.
if it’s like the Newcastle/North Tyneside changes, Nexus will change/withdraw many of their existing secured services as well in order to fund the replacement services. The 23 seems a likely candidate to go, as it’s in Birtley where the 25, 28 & 82 will all need replacing. The 73 is already duplicated by the 8 for most of the route so must be another candidate for being withdrawn.
They've been cancelling services for the best part of 6 months because of lack of drivers. If I could drive and that affected me twice I'd never use a bus again even if it was free.
That could've potentially made someone late for work or having a 2 hour work after work which is unacceptable as a passenger.
A website, pink bus, app, free cookies, free anything won't beat that problem.
As I said earlier I still don't get how they can possibly judge how things are doing on routes especially like the 82 which had at times 3 hour gaps.