(16 Sep 2023, 7:36 pm)Chris 1 wrote I would have said turning up and consistently delivering a service is the best way to alert customers the bus can meet their needs? Preferably roughly on time. A missing branded bus is as infuriating as a missing corporate bus. Similar to comments above, folk round my way still refer The Northern and route numbers that haven’t existed for 20 years or more.
Stagecoach for example don’t operate round my way. If I ever had the need to visit say Throckley, I know that the 22 will do me fine. General day to day observation has alerted me to this, rather than the fizz and froth of a branded bus.
Have to relate to this, mind I'd use the X82 - tongue in cheek as it's 10x quicker.
The brands have just caused confusion imo since some of them have been changed more times than GoNorthEast have pissed around with the local routes in Washington.
Are we going for the Creme Drifter, Green Drifter, The 9's, The Sunderland Blues, The Sunderland Violets, East Durham Explorer or Corporate bus? As that's what has been on the 61/9/61/61A in the past decade and no doubt there's other routes even worse.
Also if someone can use BusTimes, I'd be concerned if they don't understand the number of the route. BusTimes is not user friendly unless ironically you know the route number you want as brands aren't mentioned on there...?