(11 Jun 2025, 7:53 am)Thomas12 wrote I find it hard to believe the service is ‘amazing’ and I doubt most passengers will notice or even care that Go North East are operating it.

Is that because your own expectations are so low for bus services? 

I'd be delighted if an operator served where I lived, and they put the same level of time and commitment into presentation and customer experience as Northstar do. Indeed, it's something I've previously praised Go North East for under different management, but the current bunch couldn't care less. 

I don't think independents have to have a monopoly on excellent presentation and customer experience either. Operators like Transdev and trentbarton have shown that it's possible to deliver the same, but on a greater scale. It comes down to what the management see as a priority, and in the case of Go North East and Arriva in the North East, it's so far down the list that it didn't make the print.

It's supposed to be a public service. We shouldn't accept any old rubbish.