(17 Oct 2022, 12:49 pm)Adrian wrote Go North East - Fares increase again 23rd October 2022
https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/fares-and-...23-October

They seem to be determined to nail their own coffin shut!

Just had a chance to go through these, and I genuinely think there are areas where they still don't go far enough.

I think the fare reductions during Covid were mistakes, and as such any increase now looks harsh given cost of living. This increase still doesn't put the fares as high as they arguably should be - the maximum single fare is still £1.10 lower than it was in 2021, despite soaring fuel costs, increasing wages etc. 

I still massively disagree with the 5-25 pricing bracket too. I understand those still in full time education receiving subsidised travel, but surely the best option is to implement student ticketing like most other operators and cap the "young person" ticketing at 18/19. Allowing, for example, 25 year olds in full time employment access to massively discounted travel seems mental from a business POV.

I imagine some of the backlash (sorry, angry emoji reactions on FB) to the increase would have been avoided if the fares were not set unsustainably low in the first instance. I'd be tempted to say that there will be people at GNE who want to increase fares even further to align them with other companies in the region, and to help combat increasing running costs - but a hike that big is unrealistic in one go.