Go North East gets new boss

[TheGrandWazoo]

After Kevin Carr announced his retirement a couple of months back, his replacement is announced http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/16224000.Reading_Buses_CEO_steps_down/

“THE CEO of Reading Buses will be leaving the company this July, it has been announced.

Martijn Gilbert, who took the helm of the bus service nearly four years ago, will take up the role of Managing Director at the Go-Ahead Group’s North East bus business, in Newcastle, this July.”

.....which is nice.

 

[Robertj21a]

His replacement at Reading will be very interesting to see.

 

[Megafuss]

After Kevin Carr announced his retirement a couple of months back, his replacement is announced http://www.readingchronicle.co.uk/news/16224000.Reading_Buses_CEO_steps_down/



.....which is nice.

It will be interesting to see if he gets Best Impressions involved with the route branding. Red Arrow was a creation of Stenning to begin with.

 

[Tetchytyke]

God, please no more route branding.

 

[MotCO]

Will the 702 now be extended to Newcastle?

 

[Megafuss]

It will be interesting to see how he transitions from a Municipal with lower margins to a Big Opco with bigger margins

Perhaps related, I hope he looks at pricing. An eyewatering £21 for a 7 dau Purple Zone Buzzfare (Gateshead area). For comparison. A Stagecoach Newcastle Megarider is £14!

 

[transmanche]

Perhaps related, I hope he looks at pricing. An eyewatering £21 for a 7 dau Purple Zone Buzzfare (Gateshead area).

It's now £23 for a weekly single zone Buzzfare pass - the price went up last week (unless bought through their app, when the price increase takes effect at the end of the month).

For comparison. A Stagecoach Newcastle Megarider is £14!

And Stagecoach in Tyne & Wear have massive profit margins - something like 25%!

Although to be fair, GNE Buzzfare zones cover a wider area than Stagecoach's zones - and there are various local area and route-specific passes available too.

 

[Andyh82]

It will be interesting to see if he gets Best Impressions involved with the route branding. Red Arrow was a creation of Stenning to begin with.

Although Go North East’s branding tend to look a bit more brash, not quite as stylish, and a bit more of a feel of an in house design, I’m not sure we want them to turn into another Trent Barton/Transdev Best Impressions designed carbon copy.

It’d be nice if they brought back timetable leaflets though

 

[Tetchytyke]

Although to be fair, GNE Buzzfare zones cover a wider area than Stagecoach's zones - and there are various local area and route-specific passes available too.

Not that fair: a Tyne and Wear one is only £17!

Having just paid £2.20 to go a mile and a bit from Silverlink to home, it's not a mystery why there's never anybody on the 19.

That said, I still get entitlement to a student ticket, and £3.80 for a day's regionwide travel is extraordinary value.

 

[Megafuss]

Not that fair: a Tyne and Wear one is only £17!

Having just paid £2.20 to go a mile and a bit from Silverlink to home, it's not a mystery why there's never anybody on the 19.

That said, I still get entitlement to a student ticket, and £3.80 for a day's regionwide travel is extraordinary value.

I think they have a policy of "getting them young" and trying to keep them. Its a noble idea. Not sure how that actually pans out when young'uns turn in to full fare paying passengers and then ditch the service when they want the freedom of a car.

 

[Mwanesh]

It will be interesting to see how he transitions from a Municipal with lower margins to a Big Opco with bigger margins

Perhaps related, I hope he looks at pricing. An eyewatering £21 for a 7 dau Purple Zone Buzzfare (Gateshead area). For comparison. A Stagecoach Newcastle Megarider is £14!

He was with Arriva Yorkshire before he joined Reading Transport so no change for him.He will fit in at Go North East .

 

[Robertj21a]

He was with Arriva Yorkshire before he joined Reading Transport so no change for him.He will fit in at Go North East .

Wasn't he actually at Yorkshire Tiger at the time ?

 

[Mwanesh]

Wasn't he actually at Yorkshire Tiger at the time ?

Yes thats the one

 

[Robert Houston]

God, please no more route branding.

I am quite used to this route branding they have where I live although some route branding has gone over the top some route branding i cannot see the point most of them end up on other routes next day back to normal route