(08 Apr 2013, 8:10 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote(08 Apr 2013, 7:59 pm)Andreos1 wrote(08 Apr 2013, 7:05 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote(08 Apr 2013, 9:43 am)Andreos1 wrote Has anyone seen the conversation on the GNE twitter feed about the childs fare to Chester le Street from Houghton?
A single, without a key card apparently costs £3.15!
Is it just me, or is that ridiculous?
The reason behind it being so expensive is due to the boundary for county durham at Picktree and the Cricket ground at Chester le Street.
So basically you have the fare from Nexus as far Picktree for example then whatever the fare is on the County Durham side is, but for a child that is expensive. Think it's over £4.00 for an Adult.
The County Boundary coming from Houghton is at Fencehouses Railway crossing.
I use the 20/20a to Durham once every two weeks and from Houghton to Durham for an adult fair, isn't far off the quoted childs fare to Chester le Street. So the Nexus fare, carries the child 2-3 miles (10mins due to the route the 71 takes) and then GNE charge the rest for a 20min journey.
Profiteering at its highest level
(08 Apr 2013, 7:23 pm)aureolin wrote(08 Apr 2013, 9:43 am)Andreos1 wrote Has anyone seen the conversation on the GNE twitter feed about the childs fare to Chester le Street from Houghton?
A single, without a key card apparently costs £3.15!
Is it just me, or is that ridiculous?
Yea, I retweeted one of Andy's tweets and got mentioned in the last one of the conversation.
Single fares are just being pushed to the point they'll become obsolete. It's almost that way with a 'cheap' day return now. You might as well pay the extra 20p or so to get a day ticket, which is ultimately what GNE will want you to do. The reason I say that is because it will increase the average fare on the data they provide for the formula which is used to calculate the concessionary travel reimbursement.
Judging by the comments on the tweet, GNE have lost the fare of one child and at least one adult tomorrow for an alternative and cheaper option using the Pop Card.
Cant say I blame the guy.
Speaking of which, do you or anyone else know how the Network Tickets or Pop card works?
Do the bus companies get a share or percentage of each ticket?
The Pop Card is for under 18's, was 16's which enables to travel on day a ticket for £1.10 anywhere in Tyne and Wear, Single fare is between 50p and 80p I believe. I believe if the Ticket is purchased on a GNE bus for example then they get the cost of that fare. As for the Network Tickets I have no idea.
No more than an educated guess, but I'm assuming the ITA pay everything above the 90p fare in the form of a reimbursement to the operator. My thinking around that comes from the fact Durham County Council no longer "fund" such fares.