(04 Oct 2023, 5:29 pm)Andreos1 wrote I think the issue boils down to thinking titivations and cheaper fares would be enough to attract customers.
They seemed convinced it would work and somehow stacked up the business case to get the cheques signed off.
Despite not actually doing in-depth research with customers or car-users and finding out if it was what was actually needed or wanted.
I'd argue that if they were used as part of a wider strategy, then they may have had more success.
As it was, they were basically charging less - for the same old, but with a few new toys added.
Those new toys didn't create much desire at all and there didn't seem to be any other strategy or plan other than blind optimism.
Hence no success and a financial hole left over, that must be huge.
I said these things at the time and was told I was wrong.
I was told tables and lower fares were getting the network ready post-covid.
They certainly did that. Ready for failure.
There's so many studies that have been done on the correlation between lower fares and increase in passengers. It worked for Easyjet and Ryanair - the huge difference being, they adapt their network to suit customer demands. Not operational needs.
Whereas GNE, well... They kept the same old, but did some titivating.
Wonder what the uplift, time off in lieu or overtime rate is, for those staff getting behind the wheel?
Honestly, can't disagree to be fair. GoNorthEast has definitely imo dealt with post Covid the worst, it seems managers who like playing with toys in 'good times' don't really know what they're doing when they actually need to manage. Transdev in Yorkshire is in an absolute dire state aswell with Hornby bolting out the backdoor. Ironic that McGills in West Lothian is a complete mess aswell. Heard Wellglade, which is similar, is in a similar mess whereas the basic no gimmicks companies like Stagecoach are generally recovering alright. Like you said, it's almost like people use a bus to well go somewhere.
Mind I wouldn't say Ryanair and Easyjet is a good example as they're not actually that cheap, unless you don't want to take anything on the plane. It's like £20 for a carry on case nowadays I believe EW. Let's not give them ideas though, be charging for a bigger seat and a table if they had their own way. No doubt some on here would throw money at it aswell.