(20 Oct 2014, 5:35 pm)Dan wrote Remember that the "Wear Tees Xpress" service X7 is in fact included in the "East Durham" route saver day ticket which permits unlimited travel on all "East Durham" services, "Fast Cats" X35 and "Wear Tees Xpress" service X7 between Sunderland and Station Town - costing £4.60.
Arriva reducing their fares actually brings their prices further in line with Go North East's fares. Let's face it - they'd stand no chance of stealing any customers from the competition if they kept their two zone day ticket prices at £5.70 (ie £1.10 more expensive, allowing for shorter distance journeys).
I wasn't aware of that, but it's good to know. It would beggar the question of why, if reducing the fare, is it still more expensive than the competition? If people have the option between £4.60 or £4.90, then they're going to stick with the former anyway?
Looking at GNE's Money Saver guide though, they could perhaps do a bit more to promote that as a saving on the X7. At present, the X35 and X7 are just tagged on to the end of a list of East Durham services, accompanied by the East Durham brand's logo. Probably why I glanced over it in the first place.
It'd be interesting to see how many people use this ticket on the X35 and X7, and probably worth a test to see if I get offered a two zone buzzfare or the cheaper alternative.
