(06 Aug 2023, 3:00 pm)Dan wrote Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Of course, in the main, all subjective.

In response, I’d say:

• Stagecoach’s day ticket is more expensive than Go North East’s Newcastle and North Tyne ticket - so it depends how you measure value.
  
• Stagecoach have made no effort (yet) to market their new services. Go North East was the first to register their new network, the first to comment in the local media, and the first to announce on their own channels. Stagecoach might have better brand recognition, but nobody knows their new network is going to exist (starting in just four weeks’ time).
  
• Passengers are currently travelling to and from Haymarket. It might be because that is their only option, or it might be because that’s where they want to go.
  
• Customers are more likely to be familiar with a 3xx number which relates to the current service 51-55, than a completely new 37 going to ‘Whickham View’ (where is that, for anyone living in Cramlington?)
  
• The contract for the 54 may change hands in future.
  

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Aye some fair points on marketing I guess depends on what Arriva does though as far as I'm aware they still haven't actually formally announced they're going. 

Btw one thing a lot of people are ignoring with the 355 and even an extent he 38 is the 63. The 63 is every 15 minutes and at peak times is neglible the time it takes as it avoids all the serious traffic hot spots. Matthew Bank is a complete chore to the stage I avoid the Arriva X7 at peak times and use the Metro and change onto either the 19/57/57A (live further out) as it's just much quicker and reliable. 

You've also got the problem where it's really 6 BPH with Stagecoach and only 2 BPH. I don't know where the customers have gone but you have to remember the current 55 has dropped from 4 BPH to 2 BPH in the last 3 years and other than the 46 is the most heaviest hit route in the North East with Arriva Northumbria.

Personally I think the 38 isn't great though but it'll be the 63 instead or the Metro which is much much quicker that'll pick people up. 

On the Northern section I kind of have a feeling the 353 will end up every 30 minutes at some point. It's always been the strongest of the routes anyway really. It was intentional I've been missing that one as I do think that's needed. So in the end there'll be the 353 every 30 minutes through and the 359 every hour and that's it. Whether Nexus extends that to Newcastle is unknown.