(21 May 2022, 3:13 pm)cbma06 wrote There have been passengers who used to get the 55 from Hartlepool all the way to Sunderland before, must only wanted the scenic route through Houghton unless there had day tickets cheaper than Arriva

At least Arriva starting to paint there buses now, must of found a discount card for paint in the pound shop, at least there getting rid of the sapphire and max colours which is a few years past the sell by date, and also rid of the branded route numbers on the sides


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I’ve seen lots of local complaints about the Arriva services, 22/23/24 recently across East Durham really, Horden/Haswell etc.. buses not turning up on a sort of regular basis. Parents of college/school kids complaining about them being late, and passenger particular older being left at bus stops for up to an hour at times. Apparently the app shows buses not running but sometimes they don’t update as not running until it’s departed from the first stop and if it does show prior to departure, it’s not very helpful for older passengers, who don’t check an app before heading out.

So I wouldn’t be sure that the people of Peterlee/East Durham are so keen to rely on Arriva either. Mind I’ve not seen many complaints about GNE unreliability, perhaps there is some I’ve not looked, or maybe the cancellation list means there’s increased awareness leading to less of backlash on social media.

(22 May 2022, 8:40 am)busmanT wrote As I've said before, I think that the very cheap fares that GNE are now offering is simply meaning that there isn't enough revenue to make the services commercial any longer.
Passenger numbers would need to have more or less doubled for GNE to break even on the reduced fares, and they clearly haven't as almost every change on the consultation says "....do not carry enough customers to cover the costs of carrying them".

I suspect that passengers would be happy to pay fares closer to the old ones to keep the services running, rather than cheap fares and no service (or reduced service and/or the need to change buses mid journey).

Well I do think there’s a balance between making bus fares attractive offering by having value for money. But there is a point towards it being too cheap. I rarely use buses but I’ve done so a few times recently - once to Durham and once to Sunderland for days out drinking when for obvious reason I cannot drive to/from.

Yesterday, two friends coming from Seaburn to Sunderland on a Stagecoach E service, paid £4.60 for two singles. Two other friends paid £3.60 for two singles from Seaham to Sunderland on the GNE 60 route. Now that’s £2.30 and £1.80 respectively. The 1st journey is 15 minutes, all within ‘Sunderland’ boundaries and the 2nd is about 30 minutes on the bus and cross county boundaries. I was surprised at the difference in fares, it does seem like £1.80 from Seaham to Sunderland is very cheap for an adult single. I’m pretty sure 10 years ago the single fare for that journey was above £3. Considering general increases across ten years, let alone recent rising costs and fuel prices. I do think GNE are selling themselves too cheap and it’s potentially unsustainable.

Also bringing back the earlier point about Arriva vs GNE in Peterlee, I’m pretty sure Peterlee to Sunderland is about £4, if not a bit more on Arriva. If GNE are offering the same journey for £1.80 then I’d be happy to travel via Houghton on the 55, there’s also the X6 remember too.

X6 35 mins hourly
55 55 mins half hourly
Vs
22 35 mins half hourly
23 45 mins half hourly

Clearly it would seem people aren’t using the 55 as it’s up for withdrawal or GNE are hoping to keep customers via X1 then 20 forcing people to day tickets or two singles instead of one. And maybe boost the X6 too.