I have read a few opinions on this bus company before deciding to do my opinion on this and have found a very negative response towards the Arriva company and personally I think that's wrong!!!
Arriva is a Sunderland based company (I live in Newcastle) that operates throughout the north east. Although there are only 4 buses with the arriva sign on it per hour to 2 different destinations in my area i believe there are enough to give a satisfactory service. Compared to the other big north eastern company go north east. They still produce a great quality service at around the same prices
The prices are roughly the same as all other bus providers in my area.
The child fares are the same no matter how far the customer travels;
If the child is in possesion of a nexus under 16's card the charge they will incurr is 30p.
Whereas if they do not have one the charge is 50p.
A return will save at least 15p per cent on two bus tickets and is great if you are travelling to and from a place using only arriva.
the arriva one day ticket is also available for children. This consists of a £3 charge so that the child can travel anywere in the north east on as many arriva buses as is desired with that ticket.
There is also the option for a explorer ticket. This is £4.75 for a child and allows you to travel anywere in the north east all day being able to switch between different bus companies and metro services also.
-----------------------------------------------------Adult fares ----------------------------------------------------- the adult fares are calculated
Single tickets are calculated by how many zones you pass through to get to your destination. So if you only travel to the next stop the charge will be extremely low whereas if you travel 10 miles the charge will be extremely high.
Return tickets are calculated in the same way as the single tickets but save you at least 15p per cent on 2 journeys one going say to asda and one coming back.
One day tickets are £4.20 and allow you to travel anywere in the north east on arriva buses. Although there are some exceptions so watch out!!!
North east explorer tickets are £4.75 and are exactly the same as the one explained in the childrens fares section
The day out ticket is great for family or just group days out for only £6.50. You are allowed unrestricted travel for up to 5 people. Other bus companies do similar offers with similar prices but with one less person.
the family explorer is only £11 and allows up to 5people untapped travel on all bus companies in your region and all metro services.
----------------------------------------------------- the quality of the service; -----------------------------------------------------
Well the quality of the buses is the same as any other company great. In wallsend there are no double decker mini buses but it seems as if there are in other places such as newcastle. Even with the mini buses there are always enough seats for everyone to sit on it seems as if the bus companies have calculated how many people use buses in certain areas and sent the right size buses for that amount!
----------------------------------------------------- the drivers; -----------------------------------------------------
Personally I find the drivers of arriva better than any other bus company. Bus stops don't matter to the arriva staff, they will drop you outside your house if it is on the route sometimes saving you a fair distance to walk! I find this brilliant especially for oap's.
----------------------------------------------------- What happens if you see someone vandalising a bus? -----------------------------------------------------
This is the good bit. Perhaps you know some people who whenever they get on a bus they break something or right on the seats or just vandalise the bus. Perhaps you hate them or just dislike them? Well this is for you. if you witness someone vandalising a bus, call the phone number give the company all of the details about him and they prosecute. YOU RECEIVE £500!!!
----------------------------------------------------- Holidays such as Christmas -----------------------------------------------------
Many of the negative responses here are because of lack of service at Christmas time and other holidays. Well I have a couple of things to say. Don't they deserve time off too? and aren't EVERY bus company the same? I think you will find they are!
----------------------------------------------------- Are they acessable for the disabled? -----------------------------------------------------
Well the short answer is no. Depending on what disability you have arriva arent the best. On other bus companies services they have ramp ways for wheelchairs and spaces near the front, but on arriva they have neither. All of the space on the buses is used up with seats so there is not enough space for wheelchairs. Quite surprising i thought there was a law about accesability for the disabled.
----------------------------------------------------- What areas do arriva serve? -----------------------------------------------------
Well they are based in Sunderland so i suspect the mass of the fleet serve in that area and middlesbourough. However arriva do patrol the whole of the north east. There services however do not seem to be evenly spread out. In wallsend there are only two arriva buses and the rest are go north east but in certain areas near the tees arriva is all they can use.
----------------------------------------------------- Are the seats comfortable? -----------------------------------------------------
Yes unlike the new go north east seats the arriva company have stuck with the old faithful comfortable full size seats like on coaches. I think these are the best kind as you can relax on your journey.
The seats are not ripped (unlike other companies) and if you are unsatisfied all you need to do is notify the driver an he will refund your fare! this has only happened once with me (the only spare seat on the bus was ripped to shreads so i hopped off and got another no problems!
The whole arriva northen fleet are no smoking buses. Some may find this good some may find this bad but this is there policy and i dont think they will be changing it!
With this company you can use whatever you have to pay for your fare (even £5 notes) but if you use high amounts such as £2 coins or above expect a lot of change in return. i used a £10 note once the driver didnt seem too pleased lol and reglected this in the change he gave me £9.70 in 20p pieces. Even though he had £5 notes and £1 coins. Oh well theres always one bad egg in the packet!
----------------------------------------------------- Are they busy? -----------------------------------------------------
Well in rush hour the buses do get quite busy but when this happens they send a double decker so only about 5 people have to stand at most so no uncomfortable crowded buses, GREAT! i have never been on a arriva bus and had to stand. Dont get me wrong people do get on but there are always the right amount of seats.
They have the old small box at the front of the bus. Not much space at all. This service is definately not for mothers with young children because of lack of storage for pushchairs. however there is just the right amount of space to put shopping bags and if needed you are allowed to use a extra seat to put it on.
----------------------------------------------------- Overall, They say they are committed to giving you a better standard of bus companies and they are! I believe this bus service is above standard and should NOT be given negative responses.
----------------------------------------------------- UPDATED AFTER SOME INPUT -----------------------------------------------------
ps. I would appreciate it if you could give me some pointers on how i could improve this opinion either in my guestbook or just in a comment :) thanks very much mcgoo2002
More details
Staff courtesy/helpfulness
Excellent
Speed
Fast
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