(06 Aug 2023, 12:59 pm)Dan wrote Out of interest, makes you think the 37 and 38 are more desirable to customers than the 352 and 355?
It can’t be frequency, as both operators are providing services every half an hour (albeit GNE’s being co-ordinated with other services).
I have asked on a number of occasions now as this seems to have been said multiple times, and nobody has been able to give me an answer. As far as I can see, Stagecoach’s offering is less desirable during the day (does not serve Haymarket, replacement for the 55 taking a longer route via Freeman Hospital instead of being a direct bus into town, lengthy layover in Forest Hall) - the only real advantage is that they are providing an evening service (funded by Nexus).
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- Quicker route from Cramlington to Killingworth
- More bang for your buck with day tickets, with the 62, 63, X63 being available aswell for passengers going to places where people actually want to be rather than North Shields / Whitley Bay.
- Stagecoach being the principal operator the majority of the routes and have brand recognition.
- Better Newcastle connections, Haymarket is a negative and miles out of the way imo.
- More frequent Killingworth to Freeman services.
- Less confusion with complicated dual numbering. 37 is easier to remember than 352/353/354 and XXX numbers usually mean contract routes.
- Metro being there for people who want a quick route to Newcastle from Longbenton / Benton / Meadway so won't be using the bus regardless if it's for speed. Matthew Bank is not quick.
- No evening / Sunday service on the 355.
- The X8/43/57A still existing for Cramlington to Burradon / Annitsford / Dudley passengers and have the bonus of getting to Newcastle every 15 minutes on the 43/X7/X8 depending where you are so likely won't move from Arriva at all and just change their habits if currently shopping at Killingworth (it's not hard to do).
- The 54 (354) is ran by Stagecoach in an evening so no evening or Sunday Killingworth to FLE quick link.