Scarlet Band Motors
Scarlet Band Motors
Some suggestions for ways which I may think improve their services. Some will be difficult to change as some are supported by Durham County Council.
SERVICE 16/16A:
The Darlington Town Centre to Harrowgate Hill section of the route often carries very few passengers so I think it should follow the current route between Darlington Town Centre and Mowden Shops then instead of the current loop of Barnes Road, Staindrop Road and Edgecombe Drive, have the service operate via Edgecombe Drive, Staindrop Road and Barnes Road then follow the Arriva 3 route via Claxton Avenue, Fulthorpe Avenue, Lunedale Road, Birkdale Road, Swaledale Avenue, Nunnery Lane, Carmel Road North and then stop outside Cockerton Library then loop back to Carmel Road North via Woodland Road, West Auckland Road, Willow Road, Newlands Road, Deneside Road. The Town Centre to Harrowgate Hill section would be withdrawn.
SERVICE 20:
Withdraw - due to low passenger numbers, would be sad to see it withdrawn as this would leave Neasham, Sadberge and other places with no bus service again but the passenger numbers when I've seen it are terrible.
SERVICE 33:
As I suggested in the past, I think it would be brilliant if this service could be merged with service 113 to restore a direct link between Sedgefield and Bishop Auckland which was lost after Arriva cut service 69 many years ago.
SERVICE 35A - EVENING SERVICE.
Run via DurhamGate instead of A688 between Thinford and Green Lane.
SERVICE 84A:
Extend to start/terminate at Bishop Auckland Bus Station to give a direct link from West Auckland to Darlington on weekdays which was lost after Arriva withdrew their 84 and the Go North East OK1 was also withdrawn. I'm aware that Arriva run an X1 from West Auckland to Darlington on weekday mornings but there is no return journey!
SERVICES 110/111/112:
Alter timings as these services, especially the 110 often seem to be running a few minutes late and change times so the 110 isn't running a few minutes behind the Arriva 8/8A although this may be difficult due to interworking with schools services.
SERVICE 113:
Merge with service 33 to restore direct link from Bishop Auckland to Sedgefield, amend route in Bishop Auckland to U-turn at the roundabout after Asda/Morrisons and head along Newgate Street in both directions so it can swoop some passengers waiting for service 6 on the Morrsions side of the road and serve Bishop Auckland Bus Station in both directions as currently it stops in the Bus Staion heads down Newgate Street then stops near the Railway Station and heads round the back of Morrisons and goes past the Bus Station towards the Market Place. Also leave Ferryhill towards Bishop Auckland 5-10 minutes earlier so it is not running right behind the Arriva service 8 to Spennymoor.
SERVICE X49:
Withdraw - this service has a very tight timetable and can often fall behind time especially around 3pm on schooldays as there is lots of parked cars and lollipop people slowing traffic down often in the 15 minute journey time you'll be lucky to get to the traffic lights at Nevilles Cross its that bad. This service hasn't had many passengers on when I've seen it and most the passengers who do use it are concession passes. Also the Saturday journeys on the X49 were recently withdrawn.
What are your thoughts on these suggestions.
