NX Outer Zones - Rugby day ticket

[Justin Tyme]

The National Express Coventry website now has details of the "NX Outer Zones - Rugby" ticket here - https://nxbus.co.uk/coventry/news/rugby-fare-changes-from-sunday-11th-august-2024

It comes into force on 11 August, and the day ticket will cost £6 adult, £4 child.  The notice states that:

 "This increase has been discussed with our partners at Warwickshire County Council and we agree this is needed to more closely reflect the costs of providing capacity required to convey the increased demand into Rugby from outside their local authority area.

 Fares remain extremely competitive when compared to equivalent services from other operators in Warwickshire and allow customers to travel on all National Express buses in and around Coventry and beyond."

The ticket will be valid on all NX buses, so I hope this means I will be able to buy one on an NXWM bus for my occasional treks to Rugby.  Who's up for asking for one on an X51 in Cannock?

[Sandy Lane]

The National Express Coventry website now has details of the "NX Outer Zones - Rugby" ticket here - https://nxbus.co.uk/coventry/news/rugby-fare-changes-from-sunday-11th-august-2024

It comes into force on 11 August, and the day ticket will cost £6 adult, £4 child.  The notice states that:

 "This increase has been discussed with our partners at Warwickshire County Council and we agree this is needed to more closely reflect the costs of providing capacity required to convey the increased demand into Rugby from outside their local authority area.

 Fares remain extremely competitive when compared to equivalent services from other operators in Warwickshire and allow customers to travel on all National Express buses in and around Coventry and beyond."

The ticket will be valid on all NX buses, so I hope this means I will be able to buy one on an NXWM bus for my occasional treks to Rugby.  Who's up for asking for one on an X51 in Cannock?

"Increasing demand" cant be a bad thing surely?

So I hope the bus users will see the cost increase being used for their benefit on the 85 services to revert to a 30 minute frequency as used to be with De Courcey Travel?

I certainly hope the extra cost is not being used just to fund the purchase and use of a more expensive new electric single decker fleet to replace the aging and often rammed Enviro200's?

[Tony]

"Increasing demand" cant be a bad thing surely?

So I hope the bus users will see the cost increase being used for their benefit on the 85 services to revert to a 30 minute frequency as used to be with De Courcey Travel?

I certainly hope the extra cost is not being used just to fund the purchase and use of a more expensive new electric single decker fleet to replace the aging and often rammed Enviro200's?

It's being used to cover the current cost of running the service. It's a subsidised tendered service that needs financial support, hopefully less with this price increase.

Try setting up your own company and going to one of the big leasing companies and leasing a diesel E200 & an electric bus the same size, then add on operating costs and see which one is the more expensive.

[Sandy Lane]

It's being used to cover the current cost of running the service. It's a subsidised tendered service that needs financial support, hopefully less with this price increase.

Try setting up your own company and going to one of the big leasing companies and leasing a diesel E200 & an electric bus the same size, then add on operating costs and see which one is the more expensive.

OK, thanks for the info.
But what about the 'providing capacity required to convey the increased demand into Rugby' wording?. I read that as more seats and / or improved frequency?

[Coventrybususer95]

OK, thanks for the info.
But what about the 'providing capacity required to convey the increased demand into Rugby' wording?. I read that as more seats and / or improved frequency?

Could mean a PVR increase?

[BBS]

"Increasing demand" cant be a bad thing surely?

So I hope the bus users will see the cost increase being used for their benefit on the 85 services to revert to a 30 minute frequency as used to be with De Courcey Travel?

I certainly hope the extra cost is not being used just to fund the purchase and use of a more expensive new electric single decker fleet to replace the aging and often rammed Enviro200's?

The 25 is also quite rammed, but up to the DHL Sorting site near Ryton, can a increase happen there?

[Justin Tyme]

OK, thanks for the info.
But what about the 'providing capacity required to convey the increased demand into Rugby' wording?. I read that as more seats and / or improved frequency?

As I expect you know, some Mon-Fri journeys are double deck.  The last time I caught one to Rugby it was quite busy.

I wondered if this was partly what the statement meant.  If NX's tender price assumed E200s (except at school times) but double decks are now needed sometimes, that will obviously increase costs considerably.

[Sandy Lane]

As I expect you know, some Mon-Fri journeys are double deck.  The last time I caught one to Rugby it was quite busy.

I wondered if this was partly what the statement meant.  If NX's tender price assumed E200s (except at school times) but double decks are now needed sometimes, that will obviously increase costs considerably.

From what I understand currently there are 3 deckers to Rugby early morning and 3 back in the afternoons. These are needed mainly for the heavy peak school traffic.  Normally the rest of the services are single deck 200's?

If you look at the NX Coventry - Rugby area under 18 child term plus ticket (the decker traffic?) this seems to be going to ramp up from £110 to £260 a term. Wouldn't that (more than double) step up in price will help to fund the extra cost of running the deckers?

So we will have to see if there will be any other capacity changes on the 85 route from 11 August?

[Sandy Lane]

OK, thanks for the info.
But what about the 'providing capacity required to convey the increased demand into Rugby' wording?. I read that as more seats and / or improved frequency?

Ah ha, seems like the initial words about capacity and increased demand into Rugby have quietly disappeared off the NXC news item?
https://nxbus.co.uk/coventry/news/rugby-fare-changes-from-sunday-11th-august-2024.

[ellspurs]

It's still there under the "Why is it happening" tab.

Still a lot cheaper than Stagecoach were 15 years ago.

[Sandy Lane]

It's still there under the "Why is it happening" tab.

Found it, thanks.

Still a lot cheaper than Stagecoach were 15 years ago.

and I believe Stagecoach have also adjusted their Rugby student area fares but can't now find the link. IIRC wasn't the Rugby StudyRider - Megarider zone - expanded [covers Rugby & Daventry and I think it includes the 86 to Coventry] along with a price increase as well (= £278)? 

[ellspurs]

The NX "outer zones" one is £50/month, or £205/term (which seems to cost more per term?). The nBus zone one is £45/month, or £195 a term.

https://nxbus.co.uk/west-midlands/tickets-prices/student-bus-pass

Stagecoach don't seem to offer a Rugby-specific one.

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/regionaltickets/midlands/rugby/unirider

The Rugby/Daventry one you mentioned is *from* £250.80 for the "summer term".

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/regionaltickets/midlands/rugby/studyrider
https://tiscon-maps-stagecoachbus.s3.amazonaws.com/ZoneMaps/Midlands/Rugby%20%26%20Daventry/Rugby%20and%20Daventry%20MegaRider%20Map.pdf

[Sandy Lane]

Yes, NX seem to offer a cheaper term pass.

This is the Autumn price list link that I found on Google ?
https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/midlands/warwickshire-studyrider 

[Justin Tyme]

The Stagecoach Rugby Megarider and Dayrider, now including Coventry and Daventry, are much better value for money than other Stagecoach tickets.  Perhaps Stagecoach are trying to win (or win back) Coventry - Rugby traffic from NXC and trains.

I see that some Mon-Fri 85 journeys are now regularly double deck outside school times: the 1125, 1730 and 2010 from Rugby and returns particularly.  I've used the 1125 trip a couple of times and it carried a good load.  If double decks are needed on these journeys, this will no doubt be why NXC talk about by "the costs of providing capacity required to convey the increased demand into Rugby".

[j789]

The Stagecoach Rugby Megarider and Dayrider, now including Coventry and Daventry, are much better value for money than other Stagecoach tickets.  Perhaps Stagecoach are trying to win (or win back) Coventry - Rugby traffic from NXC and trains.

I see that some Mon-Fri 85 journeys are now regularly double deck outside school times: the 1125, 1730 and 2010 from Rugby and returns particularly.  I've used the 1125 trip a couple of times and it carried a good load.  If double decks are needed on these journeys, this will no doubt be why NXC talk about by "the costs of providing capacity required to convey the increased demand into Rugby".

Yes particularly the fact those double deckers are brand new electrics too, no way of reducing costs by using 20 year Tridents on such routes anymore. Very likely the new buses themselves will have attracted some new custom too, especially compared to Stagecoach's offerings on Rugby local services.