(03 Jan 2015, 6:49 pm)Dan wrote I agree, and disagree. It's obvious that a bus cannot really compete with regards to journey time, when the train can get you from A to B in 16 minutes. An 'Anytime' single costs £7.20, though.I just think it's Arriva not wanting to introduce a new service unless competition forces them. Look at the case in Nortumberland about 5-6 years ago, GNE introduced the express X41 between Ashington and Newcastle, with far lower journey times than the X31, X32 or X33 could offer. They then introduced the X30, with Scanias they already had (274, 281 and 289), and ran it 5 minutes in front. They could have easily done this previously, but chose not to as there was no competition and they had a monopoly pretty much.
Go North East operate express bus services between Sunderland / Newcastle and Middlesbrough with high passenger numbers. For example, the Northern Rail train takes 58 minutes (at a cost of £10.40 for a single) whereas the X7 takes 1hr 23m (with a day ticket costing about £3.00 less than the £10.40 train single fare).
Appreciate this isn't the 'Service Suggestions' thread, but surely Arriva could therefore compete by introducing a limited hourly(?) 'X7' express service operating between Durham and Darlington, going straight down the A1, offering a lower single cost than the competing train? Imagine the journey time would take about 30mins from A to B, so if the demand was there...
RE: Bus Related Outings and Reviews