(06 Jun 2013, 1:08 pm)Kuyoyo wrote(06 Jun 2013, 12:43 pm)CatsFast101 wrote I personally think that cross-operator tickets are needed. I mean some areas especially in County Durham go from being solely GNE to solely Arriva. I mean it's similar in Teeside which has a vast stagecoach presence down there, but that means little buses from other areas. I mean Some example High Pittington-Shotton Colliery, 10 minute car journey, but to get a bus you'll have to take GNE 260/259 to Durham then get Arriva 24/22 or get GNE 259 to Sheburn then the ANE 24. Which means 4 singles, I can only guess at prices but I'm assuming on the 24 it'll be about £2.90 single (£5.00 return?) then if Durham town & city fare zones apply in pittington it'll be £1.45 either way. Leading to a ten minute journeys costing give or take £7.90. Surely it's time County Durham got some sort of cross-operator tickets?
There is a cross operator ticket already - the Explorer North East. £9.30 valid on the big three, any County Durham and Nexus supported services as well as the Metro, the Ferry and Northern Rail between Newcastle and Sunderland. It's valid.
Also, your point regarding Teesside is invalid as we already have cross operator tickets. The Daytripper valid on Arriva and Stagecoach (but it's 5p cheaper on Arriva now than Stagecoach when it used to be the other way round, currently £4.35 on Stagecoach and £4.30 on Arriva). There's also the Easyrider which is available in two forms, the Teesside only zone and also one that covers Hartlepool and East Cleveland. The difference is the Easyrider is also valid on Compass Royston's commercial work (which only consists of their R66 to Teesside PRk and that is part-funded by the park's management) as well as all supported services operated by Leven Valley and Redcar & Cleveland Council.
Couple of years ago I did email DCC about having an interactive pass/ticket for the County, as it was extortion the prices of Arriva and GNE having to use both companies to make a journey and even a journey on a smaller operator by them doing some contract work from DCC, DCC did comment that there were looking to do this with the bus companies for the following year, but time has passed and still nothing.
I thought that since the metro came to Sunderland and Nexus stop passengers using there network traveltickets on the northern rail section between Sunderland and Newcastle, due to Nexus not funding the use of network travel tickets for northern rail as there wanted there passengers using metro instead, im very surprised that you can use explorer tickets on northern rail (Sunderland-Newcastle section)