(09 Jun 2014, 11:37 am)Dan wrote Yes, but in the example given (service 39), the fares are not 'atrocious' in the slightest. I was pointing out that Go North East's entire network cannot be tarred with the same brush of setting unreasonable fare prices etc, when there are some very good deals to be had in some parts of the network - we've discussed service 42 in the past which arguably has less competition yet offers fares which are so competitive that Go North East must make little to no profit from sales of those weekly tickets.
You have no choice but to pay £91.10 each month. I'm not sure of your circumstances, but perhaps if the tendering process was different, you would not have to fork out such a fee. Using service 39 (and other Sunderland services) as an example again, a "Sunderland Saver" is just £11.80 per week. A quick calculation tells me that it would therefore cost £47.20 per month, opposed to the larger fee of £65.80 per month with "The Anytime Ticket" by Network One. Is it really fair that customers are forced to pay £18.60 extra if they want to get home on a night, simply due to the fact the tendering process in Tyne & Wear sees other operators operating services usually operated by Go North East? No it's not!
Exactly! They shouldn't have to, but do simply due to the fact Nexus (and other parties) make a saving by offering the tender to the lowest bidder - even though the quality offered during daytime may be superior. Of course, we shouldn't forget the confusion caused by other operators winning tendered services which are commercial throughout the day. I've been on Stagecoach North East's evening 39 service frequently in the past, with the drivers regularly being asked, "Is this the same 39 which runs during the day?" and similar questions.
Why should Nexus or SNE have to pick up the pieces when GNE decide there isn't enough of a buck in it for them though?
They shouldn't, simple as that.
GNE are the ones who have decided not to run the service. If passengers are being inconvenienced, that is not Nexus or SNE's fault.
For all we know, both Nexus and SNE have approached/discussed the issue of buzzfare ticket acceptance (or vice versa).
Regardless of how the tendering service works, there is the issue of reimbursement, the politics and technicalities that go with it.
SNE accepting GNE tickets, cuts into their margins - unless the cost can be recovered.
To do that, SNE need to provided auditable evidence that a GNE ticket has been presented to Nexus or GNE. How can they do that under the current system?
Of course Nexus, could offer the tender to the daytime operator.
Passengers are less inconvenienced, but taxpayers across Tyne & Wear are penalised as a result.