(07 Sep 2014, 1:32 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote There is very little organic methods in the way of identifying passenger trends.
Granted, with the advent of technology, it is possible to identify individual journeys and hopefully this is analysed - but if you, me or someone else boards the bus, say with a paper day/week ticket, then the operators won't know where we travel.
It is impossible to analyse each and every paper ticket, in the way the smartcard tickets can be.

I think operators need to be more proactive in finding out what passengers need/want - rather than forcing passengers to travel within the confines of what the operators offer.

There will be countless other similar examples up and down the country, but I know of someone living in Bournmoor. If they need to travel to a certain place beginning with F(or make the return journey home), just a mile up the road beyond 9pm - it involves getting a taxi or using three buses.
I get that the buses are taken off due to lack of revenue (and other operational issues), but what else can passengers do, if the operators can't/won't listen or are not proactive in finding out what their passengers are needing?
Look at Spirit Buses. They have designed their network around what residents need/want. Hopefully it will work for the guy behind it.

You are right in what you say about people needing to travel from Amble to Alnwick. It is a given that there will be commuters and people needing to go about their lives.
It seems strange the last bus wasn't used that often.

I agree that it is hard to find out where people are travelling to but could they look at the route as a whole, say if a journey got 100 passengers from start to finish, does it really matter where they get on/off? That journey overall should make up for any potential non-profit bits of the route shouldn't it?

The fact that people need 3 buses to travel a mile, as you've pointed out, is shocking and as the two places must be close together I imagine if three buses are needed it takes said person quite far from where they want to be.

I think only good things can come of operators such as Spirit Buses, if they take off then not only is it good for them and their passengers, but it should give bigger operators the kick they need to improve their services in these rural areas as well, resulting in a very high quality service

(07 Sep 2014, 1:58 pm)Kuyoyo wrote BIB: People from Amble travelling to Alnwick already have 2 buses an hour - the X18 and the Travelsure-operated 472. Can't see them needing any more than that to be perfectly honest.

But that was my reasoning behind it in the first place, to improve reliability to the X18, if that's going through Amble on its way to Alnwick and its 15 minutes late, for example, the last thing it going to want is a boat load of people going to work. Now if the 20 was extended not only would there be less people from Morpeth (people from Ashington in reality) there would be less from Amble also, improving reliability and if it's on time more often, more people from Morpeth etc. would be inclined to use the X18 resulting in overall growth. Also, if people in Alnwick have the option of the X18, X15 and 20 (which will turn into the X20) to go to Newcastle then they may spread between the three again improving timekeeping.