(15 Jun 2023, 6:03 pm)L469 YVK wrote The Coast Road services are bad especially for mid-week NUFC kick offs.
Before covid, it was:
- 306/308 - 4x PH Newcastle - Billy Mill
- 309/310/311 - 3x PH Newcastle - Cobalt South
Now only 4x buses per hour and the last 309 of the evening after the Leicester match left St Mary's Place full. Now after 11pm, a 75-80% load would be acceptable but services leaving full and risking leaving passengers out of pocket with a taxi fare if unable to get on is unacceptable.
Should be at least a 10 minute frequency (or 6x buses per hour) between Newcastle and Station Road on match nights after full time
That's the risk a number of ops are taking.
The view that greater revenue vs lower costs is worth taking, is clearly an attractive comparison.
It may pay off. It may put punters off.
GNE have done it with the X1, 56 and X10.
It may pay off short term and stablise the books somewhat. I don't think it will pay off longterm when it comes to growing passenger numbers.