New bus station interchange tackles top ten gripes
Go North East, Nexus and Prudential Assurance Ltd are working together in the first partnership of its kind in the region to make sure the new Washington Galleries bus interchange is built to standards which tackle everything on the list of passengers’ top ten most hated features at bus stations.
Confusion over who is in charge, poor quality waiting areas, poor quality cleaning standards and a lack of security are just some of the areas passengers have complained about to Go North East.
However, when plans were drawn up for the new bus interchange, the partners were able to seize the opportunity to take a fresh look at the entire passenger experience and work together to provide the highest possible standards of information, supervision and management for passengers.
Every aspect of the day to day operation of the new bus station is covered by the partnership agreement which will see Go North East running the bus station with Prudential making sure safety, cleaning and maintenance standards are of the same high quality as the Galleries shopping malls and Nexus providing quality signage and passenger information. Nexus will also monitor the bus station standards to make sure they are being maintained at the highest level.
The new bus station will also have the area’s first travel and ticket information centre capable of providing both bus and rail information. With access to information on local buses, Metro and longer distance train travel, passengers will be able to plan journeys to most destinations in the country using this one-stop-shop.
Go North East Managing Director, Peter Huntley said, “It is not often that we get the opportunity to tear up the existing rules and address all of the issues that users have raised with us as being problems. Through this positive partnership with Prudential and Nexus people using the new bus station will notice a huge difference when it opens. By working together we will eliminate the problems often experienced when there are separate local authority and operator staff involved in the running of bus stations.”
Juliette Coard, Centre Manager of the Galleries said, “The new bus station has been long awaited and we are absolutely delighted to have the opportunity of working with Go North East and Nexus to give the loyal Galleries customers exactly what they want – a 21st century bus station!!
Bernard Garner, Director General of Nexus, said: “Our investment in the Galleries bus interchange will mark a step change in quality for passengers in Washington. Local people will see a huge difference in quality and this partnership ensures that does not stop with the building alone but includes high standards of information, cleanliness and security.”
The bus station is being replaced as part of a multi-million pound investment at Washington Galleries by its owner Prudential. Nexus are also investing £278,000 in the new interchange which is due to open later this year. More than 1100 buses travel to the Galleries every day with almost all services operated by Go North East.