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£2m re-vamped bus service signals success for Go North East

The region’s largest bus operator, Go North East has been given the green light for customer satisfaction after its year-on-year passenger numbers increased by 15% on its new Castles Express service.

A significant £2m cash injection has transformed one of the company’s longest-standing routes into an overnight sensation. Go North East re-named its former Pronto service the Castles Express and launched a fleet of brand new state-of-the-art buses.

Since its launch in March, the Castles Express has seen dramatic performance improvements.

Kevin Carr, managing director at Go North East, said: “We are fully committed to providing Go North East customers with the best possible services and take steps to not only recognise where improvements are needed, but ensure they are addressed.

“We are very proud of our new Castles Express brand and the feedback we have had from passengers is testament to the substantial work we have put in to turn the service around.”

Journeying from Newcastle and Durham to Bishop Auckland, the new low emission double decker buses offer passengers access to improved on-board facilities including: leather-seats; audio-visual next stop announcements to assist visually-impaired customers and visitors to the area; free Wi-Fi; power sockets with USB connections; and four saloon tables on the upper deck.

Bright and iconic livery, featuring Castle graphics, has allowed customers to easily distinguish the Castles Express, while the addition of a new stop and enhanced journey times has updated the route.

Kevin added: “By working in partnership with Gateshead Council, we created bus priority measures on the Durham Road corridor to enable more predictable journey times.

“The Pronto had a flexible registration from the A1 into Gateshead to avoid peak-time congestion on Durham Road, however the bus priority schemes and our own vehicle-tracking system data demonstrated that journey times through Low Fell would be more predictable.

“This allowed us to build a more robust timetable with a revised route along Durham Road, including a new Low Fell stop, without impacting on journey times.”

The Castles Express was part of Go North East’s major £10.5m investment that included overhauling 47 vehicles of its almost 700-strong fleet throughout 2016.

Kevin finished: “All of the improvements we are making this year are largely driven by extensive stakeholder consultation as we continue to push the boundaries of established practice.

“It is our passion for service and innovation, aligned with our continued investment in the latest technologies that has helped Go North East to surpass customer expectations and we believe that The Castles Express has set the precedent.”

For more information, visit www.gonortheast.co.uk or follow Go North East on Twitter or Facebook.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Go North East .