(08 Nov 2015, 8:27 pm)Andreos1 Just the other day, I had been using the bus to the office and then jumping on another bus, to head off elsewhere after work.

I had debated getting an explorer, giving me some flexibility, but in the end plumped for a 2zone Buzzfare.

Anyway, apart from there being issues with the 21 and their blinds (and late running) and an Omni that had an engine that could cook a turkey from frozen in minutes - will save those stories for another day, the main observation of my trip, was at a stop on the outskirts of Durham.

It was an all stopper one, that had the expresses calling at it too.
After a wait for a bus, that took an age to arrive, I boarded a 21 and headed off.
What I had noticed during the wait, was the 7 people (who had just finished work for the day) who all let an X12 pass.
Being in Arriva country, that did surprise me.
Heck, there was even a punter who headed off and walked towards Durham out of sheer boredom and frustration.

What got me most of all, was the fact that out of all of the 7 waiting, each and everyone of us, must have had a ticket of some type issued by GNE - despite all heading south, into Durham and deeper into (as I said above) Arriva country.

Thinking of the various permutations and their ultimate destination, I wonder how many are loyal to GNE (and why) and how many don't have a choice on operators between Durham and home.
If they are loyal to GNE and there is the choice of two operators for their trip, is this based on price?

It has to be said, only 3 of the 7 got on the 21. So goodness knows where the other 4 were going. I can only assume they were waiting for an X21 and have a GNE ticket, rather than an ANE one.

(09 Nov 2015, 12:17 pm)BusLoverMum It is likely that they did have a return or day ticket. I'm guessing you're talking about Pity Me or Framwellgate Moor, in which case there's 6 21/X21 per hour as opposed to just 2 X12. Buying a ticket that can be used on any of the services costs a lot more for little gain.

Where I live, we only have an GNE services on a Sunday, and that's only once every 2-3 hours. I've never used it. Just travelling between here and Durham, I've got the choice of a 20 minute £7 return journey on Arriva or a 40 minute journey, for about 3/4 of the price with Scarlet Band. I never choose the cheaper journey when I'm not with Big'un because it feels a lot more than twice as long on those buses!

I do buy an explorer rather than an Arriva day ticket for visiting Newcastle, though. It gives me a lot more options fr getting home again than just the X12. Those options extend beyong the 6 possible GNE buses. If there's a problem affecting the buses to Durham from NCL, then I can get the Metro to Sunderland or even the X9 to Peterlee. If i don't mind a slightly slower journey, I can get the X1 to Houghton le Spring and the 20/20A on to Durham - both frequent services that make up a bit for going round the houses. Travelling via stanley takes about the same time as that alternative or there's always the slower buses to CLS, like the 28 and X25.

None of those options would be available if I remained loyal to Arriva.

(Though the one time there was an accident closing the A1, which did make the journey through CLS to Durham impossible, the metro was off, too!)

(11 Nov 2015, 7:00 pm)Andreos1 I keep coming back to the same point, but if it is £1.50 between the Ramside and Durham on a 15min/3.5m trip how on earth does it cost another £2.60 to travel a mere 15mins/4.5miles up the road?

(12 Nov 2015, 5:31 pm)citaro5284 Stop turning round then!

(13 Nov 2015, 9:42 am)Andreos1 You could always have a word with the powers that be at GNE towers and convince them of the merits and benefits of lowering it and making it a reasonable, attractive fare, for what is a relatively short journey!

There would be loads of benefits, some of which include me never mentioning the £4.10 fare again (remember when I used to complain about the £4.00 fare, prior to the increase?) and drivers not having to apologise to those who pay it.

(13 Nov 2015, 9:54 am)BusLoverMum A lot of the fare difference would be accounted for by the difference between the high volume urban part of the journey and the round the houses rural/village part. The Ramside-Houton part of the journey may not be much longer, as the crow flies, but the bus doesn't travel as the crow flies. Serving the villages on that part of the route is a lot more expensive in terms of fuel and time than the short, direct and quick run from the bus station to Ramside with lots of houses and businesses along the entire route.

(09 Jan 2016, 9:25 pm)Andreos1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-35244393

Bus passenger journeys have fallen in two-thirds of English council areas over the past six years. One reason cited, is prices.

Redcar & Cleveland and Darlington are amongst the areas to see biggest falls.

(10 Jan 2016, 10:15 am)JakeSavage 'Martin Abrams, from the Campaign for Better Transport, said: "Across the country, we are seeing a very worrying trend of declining bus usage, a decline which correlates with the huge funding cuts to local authority supported buses we've seen over recent years."'

So, the fall is as much to do with LAs removing supported services/ lowering of CT schemes, etc. 

Anyone like to hazard a guess as to how much operation is directly secured in the Teesside/ Hartlepool areas these days?

(09 Jan 2016, 11:41 pm)BusLoverMum "the fare has gone from £1.80 to £2.30."

People should try being up here! For £2.30, I'd probably catch the bus every day!

(10 Jan 2016, 10:15 am)JakeSavage 'Martin Abrams, from the Campaign for Better Transport, said: "Across the country, we are seeing a very worrying trend of declining bus usage, a decline which correlates with the huge funding cuts to local authority supported buses we've seen over recent years."'

So, the fall is as much to do with LAs removing supported services/ lowering of CT schemes, etc. 

Anyone like to hazard a guess as to how much operation is directly secured in the Teesside/ Hartlepool areas these days?

(10 Jan 2016, 10:20 am)tyresmoke Very little in Teesside, Redcar still fund some early morning services eg 746/7/8 and 794.
Some councils operate some services themselves though which were previously ran by other companies... I wonder if these are included in the figures or not?

(28 Jan 2016, 4:18 pm)Andreos1 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p03gtzgz

I didn't think that fare was too bad to be honest.
Wonder what he would think if he used the 20?

(28 Jan 2016, 4:50 pm)citaro5284 Or an Arriva service from parts of Northumberland to Newcastle......lets not pretend it is just GNE

(28 Jan 2016, 4:50 pm)citaro5284 Or an Arriva service from parts of Northumberland to Newcastle......lets not pretend it is just GNE

(28 Jan 2016, 4:50 pm)citaro5284 Or an Arriva service from parts of Northumberland to Newcastle......lets not pretend it is just GNE