Go North East

[Greg in Weardale]

RE: Go North East
I agree with Eezypeazy that Quality Contracts are not the way to go. It would cost vastly more and many people in Tyne & Wear would get a less frequent service and probably higher fares. I can't see the Coast Road or places like Byker, Blaydon or Wrekenton having such frequent services as they do now if Nexus is paying an operator to run them. Many people don't live close to a Metro station and prefer the convenience of a nearby bus, but I can't see Nexus paying to run routes like the GNE 27 or X3 through to Newcastle City Centre. Yes, there have been some service cuts, mainly little used early morning or evening buses, but we are in a recession which shows little sign of going away and all three major operators here have invested in a lot of new vehicles, with Stagecoach and now Go North East introducing "green" buses. Nexus tickets are already available for all buses plus the Metro; people have the choice of whether to buy these or stick with one operator and get their exclusive tickets such the GNE Buzzfare. Venturego implies that Quality Contracts would improve services in County Durham and Northumberland, but Nexus has no responsibility for buses here and certainly won't pay for them - those of us living in County Durham with no evening or Sunday buses would love just a fraction of the money Nexus now spends on secured services, let alone what they'll throw away if they insist on Quality Contracts. Although at least Nexus gave up its Link Up (almost door to door) service some time ago, whereas Durham still wastes a great deal on its Link 2 minibuses, used by a tiny number of people, money which would be much better spent on evening and Sunday services. I don't know how buses coming into Nexus-land from Durham or Northumberland will be affected by Quality Contracts. Nexus won't want them competing with their expensive franchises, so will they have to run non-stop or will passengers be forced to change buses on entering Tyne & Wear? No, Nexus, Quality Contracts will achieve nothing apart from a worse service for the majority of people and waste a great deal more money in providing it - and will they want all the vehicles to be that vile battleship grey?