Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
(05 Nov 2018, 8:50 pm)GNE6312 New peak service
1X
Cobalt business park
North Tyneside hospital
Whitley bay
Tynemouth
North shields
Tyne tunnel trading estate
Silverlink
Coast road
Newcastle city centre
Gateshead
Low fell
Wrekenton
Every 30 mins
From wreckenton buses will operate from 6am to 10am
From cobalt buses will operate from 3:0ppm till 6:pm
(05 Nov 2018, 8:50 pm)GNE6312 New peak service
1X
Cobalt business park
North Tyneside hospital
Whitley bay
Tynemouth
North shields
Tyne tunnel trading estate
Silverlink
Coast road
Newcastle city centre
Gateshead
Low fell
Wrekenton
Every 30 mins
From wreckenton buses will operate from 6am to 10am
From cobalt buses will operate from 3:0ppm till 6:pm
(05 Nov 2018, 9:54 pm)ne14ne1 Surely we can't have another service numbered 1!
Newcastle already has a 1, 1, 1A, N1, Q1, X1, X1A.
(05 Nov 2018, 9:54 pm)ne14ne1 Surely we can't have another service numbered 1!
Newcastle already has a 1, 1, 1A, N1, Q1, X1, X1A.
(05 Nov 2018, 9:54 pm)ne14ne1 Surely we can't have another service numbered 1!
Newcastle already has a 1, 1, 1A, N1, Q1, X1, X1A.
(05 Nov 2018, 9:54 pm)ne14ne1 Surely we can't have another service numbered 1!
Newcastle already has a 1, 1, 1A, N1, Q1, X1, X1A.
(05 Nov 2018, 8:50 pm)GNE6312 New peak serviceWouldn't it not make more sense to start it in Shields and send it the opposite way along the coast and then up Rake Lane because people travelling from Cobalt to Gateshead and Wrekenton would probably still find it quicker to use 56/X1/1/21 onto the X39/309?
1X
Cobalt business park
North Tyneside hospital
Whitley bay
Tynemouth
North shields
Tyne tunnel trading estate
Silverlink
Coast road
Newcastle city centre
Gateshead
Low fell
Wrekenton
Every 30 mins
From wreckenton buses will operate from 6am to 10am
From cobalt buses will operate from 3:0ppm till 6:pm
(05 Nov 2018, 10:01 pm)GNE6312 The peak coaster 1 so needs a 1 in it
The peak coaster 1 so needs a 1 in it
(05 Nov 2018, 8:50 pm)GNE6312 New peak serviceWouldn't it not make more sense to start it in Shields and send it the opposite way along the coast and then up Rake Lane because people travelling from Cobalt to Gateshead and Wrekenton would probably still find it quicker to use 56/X1/1/21 onto the X39/309?
1X
Cobalt business park
North Tyneside hospital
Whitley bay
Tynemouth
North shields
Tyne tunnel trading estate
Silverlink
Coast road
Newcastle city centre
Gateshead
Low fell
Wrekenton
Every 30 mins
From wreckenton buses will operate from 6am to 10am
From cobalt buses will operate from 3:0ppm till 6:pm
(05 Nov 2018, 10:01 pm)GNE6312 The peak coaster 1 so needs a 1 in it
The peak coaster 1 so needs a 1 in it
X19
Wansbeck Hospital
Bebside ASDA
Shankhouse
Cramlington
Cramlington shops
Northumberland park
Cobalt
New york
Billy mill
North Shields
Tyne tunnel
Jarrow
Hebburn
Pelaw
Heworth
Washington Galleries
Washington
Houghton le spring
Not all runs run the full route
Here is what depot run what runs to wards Wansbeck hospital (am only)
Run depot allocation
5:00 Washington gemini 2
5:30 Washington 55 plate gemini
6:00A cls streetdeck
6:15A saltmeadows dual door
6:30 Deptford dual door
6:45 Deptfod gemini 2
7:00 Riverside gemini 2
7:15B Percy Main Dual door
7:30C percy main gemini 2
7:45 Saltmeadows V plate
President
8:00 Saltmeadows ex eyms
8:30C Percy main dual door
9:00 Saltmeadows ex eyms
9:30 Washington Gemini 2
10:00 Riverside gemini 2
10:30 percy main omnidekka
11:00 percy main omnicity
Key (towards Wansbeck only)
A commences from Washington Galleries
B commences from jarrow
C termites at cobalt
All runs operted by Washington will then run NIS to Newcastle for the X1 after the X19
The CLS run will then run NIS to Newcastle for the 21 after the X19
All deptford runs will run NIS to Newcastle for the 56 after the X19
The Riverside run NIS to Newcastle for the 10B after the X19
All saltmeadows runs will run NIS to Blyth for an extra 309s after the X19
All percy main runs will run NIS to blyth for the 309 after the X19
All runs from Wansbeck hospital will be operated by
Run depot allocation
14:00 Percy main omnidekka
14:30 percy main B5LH
15:00 Riverside Vyking
15:30 Riverside gemini 2
16:00 Percy main dual door
16:30 Saltmeadows dual door
17:00 Riverside vyking
17:30 Saltmeadows ex eyms
18:00 Percy main dual door
All percy main runs will run NIS to South Shields for an extra 5 after the X19
All riverside and saltmeadows runns will do an extra X1 from houghton to Newcastle after tge X19
5: South Shields - Chichester - South Tyneside Hospital - Whitleas - Boldon Asda - Fellgate - Jarrow - Hebburn - Lukes Lane. This service will no longer serve North Shields, instead it will operate to Hebburn and Lukes Lane. Also this service will no longer serve Fellgate Estate and Primrose, that section will be replaced by service 35. This service will continue to operate Every 30 minutes.
9: Renumbered back to 61 and revised to operate Sunderland to Murton only.
35: Sunderland - Southwick - Castletown - Hylton Castle - Town End Farm - Downhill - Boldon Asda - Fellgate Estate - Fellgate Metro - Primrose - Jarrow - Tyne Tunnel - North Shields. This service will operate hourly, but will combine with service 55 to provide a bus every 30 minutes between Sunderland and Boldon via Castletown. Also between Jarrow and North Shields it will combine with service X35 to provide a bus every 30 minutes through the tunnel.
X35: Sunderland - Fulwell, The Grange - East Boldon - Boldon Asda - Fellgate - Jarrow - Tyne Tunnel - North Shields. This service will operate hourly, but will combine with service X55 to provide a bus every 30 minutes between Sunderland and Boldon via East Boldon. Also between Jarrow and North Shields it will combine with service 35 to provide a bus every 30 minutes through the tunnel.
36 Chester Le Street - Great Lumley - Fence Houses - Houghton - Herrington Burn - East Herrington - Durham Road - Barnes Park - Royal Hospital - Sunderland - Stadium of Light - Enterprise Park - Castletown. No changes in frequency, although this service will serve the Royal Hospital and Durham Road opposed to Silksworth replacing service 35.
36A: Low Moorsley - Hetton Le Hole - Hetton Downes - Houghton Le Spring - Herrington Burn - East Herrington - Silksworth - Tunstall Bank - Eskdale Estate - Hollycarside - Leechmere - Ashbrooke - Sunderland. This service will operate hourly replacing services 35 and 38.
X36: Low Moorsley - Hetton Le Hole - Hetton Downes - Houghton Le Spring - A690 - East Herrington - Barnes Park - Royal Hospital - Sunderland. New Express service aimed at making access to Sunderland from Hetton estates even more easier! This service will operate hourly Mon - Sat Daytimes.
38: Withdrawn
55: Sunderland - Southwick - Castletown - Hylton Castle - Town End Farm - Downhill - Boldon Asda - Fellgate Estate - Heworth - Felling Square - Gateshead - Newcastle. This service will operate hourly, but will combine with service 35 to provide a bus every 30 minutes between Sunderland and Boldon via Castletown. This service will serve Fellgate Estate to ensure there is atleast 2 buses an hour. This service will follow the old A-Line M12 route between Heworth and Gateshead.
X55: Sunderland - Fulwell, The Grange - East Boldon - Boldon Asda - Heworth - Gateshead - Newcastle. This service will operate hourly, but will combine with service X35 to provide a bus every 30 minutes between Sunderland and Boldon via East Boldon. This service will operate direct between Boldon and Newcastle.
H1: Withdrawn, the link to South Tyneside Hospital will be continued on service 5.
X90
Metrocentre
A1
Washington Castle road
Wshington galleries
Sunderland highway
Wessington way
Castletown way Sainsbury's
North hylton road
Southwick
Fulwell
Seaburn
Roker
Sunderland park lane interchange
Depot: deptford
Frequency: every 30 minutes 7 days a week
Allocation: mostly dual dual door with 1 gemini 2 and 1 of 5337/8
(26 Nov 2018, 7:20 pm)GNE6312 X90
Metrocentre
A1
Washington Castle road
Wshington galleries
Sunderland highway
Wessington way
Castletown way Sainsbury's
North hylton road
Southwick
Fulwell
Seaburn
Roker
Sunderland park lane interchange
Depot: deptford
Frequency: every 30 minutes 7 days a week
Allocation: mostly dual dual door with 1 gemini 2 and 1 of 5337/8
(26 Nov 2018, 7:20 pm)GNE6312 X90
Metrocentre
A1
Washington Castle road
Wshington galleries
Sunderland highway
Wessington way
Castletown way Sainsbury's
North hylton road
Southwick
Fulwell
Seaburn
Roker
Sunderland park lane interchange
Depot: deptford
Frequency: every 30 minutes 7 days a week
Allocation: mostly dual dual door with 1 gemini 2 and 1 of 5337/8
(26 Nov 2018, 8:46 pm)JM03 Maybe combining it with the 56 to Concord? X56?Then you have big problems when metrocentre becomes very busy and you have 3 buses that should be at sunderland but are instead at various places around metroasis and A1. This one really should be left standard. Means only one service gets wrecked when things go wrong, not two.
(26 Nov 2018, 8:46 pm)JM03 Maybe combining it with the 56 to Concord? X56?Then you have big problems when metrocentre becomes very busy and you have 3 buses that should be at sunderland but are instead at various places around metroasis and A1. This one really should be left standard. Means only one service gets wrecked when things go wrong, not two.
X90 (The Central Express) Newcastle Central Station - NonStop - Newcastle Airport.
New Direct Express between Newcastle and The Airport. The service will operate up to Every 15 minutes 7 days a week during daytimes. The service will also operate during the early hours of the morning to meet flights landing.
The service will offer Complimentary Free Wi-Fi access enabling customers to catch up with last minute E-mails or to search the web. Passengers will also experience additional features such as USB Charging, allowing for that little extra charge prior to boarding your flight. Tables will be also be available offering panoramic views with the advantage of additional leg room and Charging Points opposed to USBs.
To ensure you can skip purchasing a ticket from the driver, the option of advance booking is available which will entitle you to 50% off the fare.
The aim of this service is to bring direct express links from the Airport to the Heart of the City in Style and Comfort. The idea to make every minute of the journey feel tranquil and relaxing, whilst offering it in a specious and clean environment.
Prices roll in at:
£5.00 - Adult Single
£2.50 - Advance Adult Single
£10.00 - Weekly Return
£5.00 - Advance Weekly Return
£20.00 - Monthly Return
£10.00 - Advance Monthly Return.
Children under the age of 15 travel Free of Charge when accompanied by an adult.
All Go North East tickets and all other Bus Passes are NOT valid for travel.
(29 Nov 2018, 1:42 am)S830OFT X90 (The Central Express) Newcastle Central Station - NonStop - Newcastle Airport.The airport isnt busy enough to justify this and is served extremely well by the metro and stagecoach. I could not see any other commercial service profiting from this.
New Direct Express between Newcastle and The Airport. The service will operate up to Every 15 minutes 7 days a week during daytimes. The service will also operate during the early hours of the morning to meet flights landing.
The service will offer Complimentary Free Wi-Fi access enabling customers to catch up with last minute E-mails or to search the web. Passengers will also experience additional features such as USB Charging, allowing for that little extra charge prior to boarding your flight. Tables will be also be available offering panoramic views with the advantage of additional leg room and Charging Points opposed to USBs.
To ensure you can skip purchasing a ticket from the driver, the option of advance booking is available which will entitle you to 50% off the fare.
The aim of this service is to bring direct express links from the Airport to the Heart of the City in Style and Comfort. The idea to make every minute of the journey feel tranquil and relaxing, whilst offering it in a specious and clean environment.
Prices roll in at:
£5.00 - Adult Single
£2.50 - Advance Adult Single
£10.00 - Weekly Return
£5.00 - Advance Weekly Return
£20.00 - Monthly Return
£10.00 - Advance Monthly Return.
Children under the age of 15 travel Free of Charge when accompanied by an adult.
All Go North East tickets and all other Bus Passes are NOT valid for travel.
(29 Nov 2018, 1:42 am)S830OFT X90 (The Central Express) Newcastle Central Station - NonStop - Newcastle Airport.The airport isnt busy enough to justify this and is served extremely well by the metro and stagecoach. I could not see any other commercial service profiting from this.
New Direct Express between Newcastle and The Airport. The service will operate up to Every 15 minutes 7 days a week during daytimes. The service will also operate during the early hours of the morning to meet flights landing.
The service will offer Complimentary Free Wi-Fi access enabling customers to catch up with last minute E-mails or to search the web. Passengers will also experience additional features such as USB Charging, allowing for that little extra charge prior to boarding your flight. Tables will be also be available offering panoramic views with the advantage of additional leg room and Charging Points opposed to USBs.
To ensure you can skip purchasing a ticket from the driver, the option of advance booking is available which will entitle you to 50% off the fare.
The aim of this service is to bring direct express links from the Airport to the Heart of the City in Style and Comfort. The idea to make every minute of the journey feel tranquil and relaxing, whilst offering it in a specious and clean environment.
Prices roll in at:
£5.00 - Adult Single
£2.50 - Advance Adult Single
£10.00 - Weekly Return
£5.00 - Advance Weekly Return
£20.00 - Monthly Return
£10.00 - Advance Monthly Return.
Children under the age of 15 travel Free of Charge when accompanied by an adult.
All Go North East tickets and all other Bus Passes are NOT valid for travel.
(29 Nov 2018, 8:39 pm)Jamie M The airport isnt busy enough to justify this and is served extremely well by the metro and stagecoach. I could not see any other commercial service profiting from this.
X8
Newcastle
Gateshead interchange
Non-stop
Heworth interchange
Non-stop
Boldon coliery
West boldon
Non-stop
Sunderland
Hendon
Seaham
Dawdon
Easington
Peterlee
Blackhall colliery
Crimdon
Hartlepool
Depot: riverside
Allocation: citaros
Cascades for the service:
Citaros 5337/8 deptford to Riverside for the route
5486/7 to Riverside as spares
12 new citaros from blue star
6x 55 plates 5488-03
6× 07 plates 5494-9
All buses for the route will carry GNE corp with bluestar seating moquet
All buses will get fitted with NSA screens if they dont have them and free wifi
Frequency: every 20 mind
I've been thinking about the X9 and X10, their stopping arrangements and wondering if another service could be introduced.
Just a hypothetical clockface departure from Newcastle:
00 - X9
20 - X10
40 - X11
The X9 and X9 would keep their routes as is, but the X11 would operate differently between Newcastle and the A19 and then A19 - Boro.
Timings would need to be tweaked to ensure it would work, but essentially the route would be Newcastle - Gateshead - Low Fell - Washington Galleries - Dalton Park - non-stop to Middlesbrough.
The route would be flexible between the Galleries and Dalton Park, allowing for issues at points on the route.
Options could include A1231/A19; A182/A183/A19 or A182/A690/A19.
The southbound service would be front-loaded, ensuring a quicker approach to Teesside, unlike the current services which seem to take an eternity once they get to Wolviston/Billingham.
Obviously it improves connections and the stopping arrangements in Low Fell/Gateshead area could supplement or complement the X21, easing the burden on the 21 for local travel.
So since moving to my new location a month ago I have become a daily user of the 21 and I think Go North East could do with looking to improve the service during the peak period on a morning and evening.
I have noticed when on 9am starts the 21 which i'd use into Newcastle after serving the Low Fell "The Cannon" where it leaves at full capacity including standees leaves quite a lot of passengers at the stops which follow through to Gateshead, on Monday I was the last person to get on at my location and the driver would not allow anyone else on, this allowed me to a rough head count at each stop as we passed at slow speed, my calculations were quite shocking a full bus were left standing at the stops between Low Fell and Gateshead, what is more interesting is how many of those people manage to get on the next 21 that comes, likelihood this would be equally as busy.
The main problem is with the service going straight through the middle of large housing areas those who don't have a direct service to Eldon Square, therefore they'll walk several minutes to the nearest stop.
I think perhaps have some short runs from the Angel Of The North could perhaps reduce capacity issues on the 21, some will say well you have 1 which uses deckers surely this would solve the issue, I used the 1 yesterday into work to which 4 people got on with me, the remaining 15+ passengers got the 21 which came in behind the 1, quite shocking right until you realise the vast majority will go direct into Eldon Square instead and choose not to walk from Market Street, makes you wonder if these passengers purchase a Angel weekly saver as it is £2 cheaper than a purple week pass or are paying a £1 more for use of the X21 as well as that get packed if the 21 doesn't show up first.
Either way some needs to be done with service whether if that is by increasing frequency or purchasing higher capacity deckers which would mean going tri-axle.
(05 Dec 2018, 11:02 pm)Malarkey So since moving to my new location a month ago I have become a daily user of the 21 and I think Go North East could do with looking to improve the service during the peak period on a morning and evening.
I have noticed when on 9am starts the 21 which i'd use into Newcastle after serving the Low Fell "The Cannon" where it leaves at full capacity including standees leaves quite a lot of passengers at the stops which follow through to Gateshead, on Monday I was the last person to get on at my location and the driver would not allow anyone else on, this allowed me to a rough head count at each stop as we passed at slow speed, my calculations were quite shocking a full bus were left standing at the stops between Low Fell and Gateshead, what is more interesting is how many of those people manage to get on the next 21 that comes, likelihood this would be equally as busy.
The main problem is with the service going straight through the middle of large housing areas those who don't have a direct service to Eldon Square, therefore they'll walk several minutes to the nearest stop.
I think perhaps have some short runs from the Angel Of The North could perhaps reduce capacity issues on the 21, some will say well you have 1 which uses deckers surely this would solve the issue, I used the 1 yesterday into work to which 4 people got on with me, the remaining 15+ passengers got the 21 which came in behind the 1, quite shocking right until you realise the vast majority will go direct into Eldon Square instead and choose not to walk from Market Street, makes you wonder if these passengers purchase a Angel weekly saver as it is £2 cheaper than a purple week pass or are paying a £1 more for use of the X21 as well as that get packed if the 21 doesn't show up first.
Either way some needs to be done with service whether if that is by increasing frequency or purchasing higher capacity deckers which would mean going tri-axle.
(05 Dec 2018, 11:02 pm)Malarkey So since moving to my new location a month ago I have become a daily user of the 21 and I think Go North East could do with looking to improve the service during the peak period on a morning and evening.
I have noticed when on 9am starts the 21 which i'd use into Newcastle after serving the Low Fell "The Cannon" where it leaves at full capacity including standees leaves quite a lot of passengers at the stops which follow through to Gateshead, on Monday I was the last person to get on at my location and the driver would not allow anyone else on, this allowed me to a rough head count at each stop as we passed at slow speed, my calculations were quite shocking a full bus were left standing at the stops between Low Fell and Gateshead, what is more interesting is how many of those people manage to get on the next 21 that comes, likelihood this would be equally as busy.
The main problem is with the service going straight through the middle of large housing areas those who don't have a direct service to Eldon Square, therefore they'll walk several minutes to the nearest stop.
I think perhaps have some short runs from the Angel Of The North could perhaps reduce capacity issues on the 21, some will say well you have 1 which uses deckers surely this would solve the issue, I used the 1 yesterday into work to which 4 people got on with me, the remaining 15+ passengers got the 21 which came in behind the 1, quite shocking right until you realise the vast majority will go direct into Eldon Square instead and choose not to walk from Market Street, makes you wonder if these passengers purchase a Angel weekly saver as it is £2 cheaper than a purple week pass or are paying a £1 more for use of the X21 as well as that get packed if the 21 doesn't show up first.
Either way some needs to be done with service whether if that is by increasing frequency or purchasing higher capacity deckers which would mean going tri-axle.
I've mentioned this before on here - when I lived in Low fell I used the 21 to get to NUFC matches. On one occasion i and many others were waiting for a bus, and an empty 21 ( trying to get back on scheduled I think) came but drove past as not in service. another following was full then the next one came and let several passengers on but left me and other behind. Think i go the x12 arrive in and even had to stand on that.
(05 Dec 2018, 11:02 pm)Malarkey So since moving to my new location a month ago I have become a daily user of the 21 and I think Go North East could do with looking to improve the service during the peak period on a morning and evening.
I have noticed when on 9am starts the 21 which i'd use into Newcastle after serving the Low Fell "The Cannon" where it leaves at full capacity including standees leaves quite a lot of passengers at the stops which follow through to Gateshead, on Monday I was the last person to get on at my location and the driver would not allow anyone else on, this allowed me to a rough head count at each stop as we passed at slow speed, my calculations were quite shocking a full bus were left standing at the stops between Low Fell and Gateshead, what is more interesting is how many of those people manage to get on the next 21 that comes, likelihood this would be equally as busy.
The main problem is with the service going straight through the middle of large housing areas those who don't have a direct service to Eldon Square, therefore they'll walk several minutes to the nearest stop.
I think perhaps have some short runs from the Angel Of The North could perhaps reduce capacity issues on the 21, some will say well you have 1 which uses deckers surely this would solve the issue, I used the 1 yesterday into work to which 4 people got on with me, the remaining 15+ passengers got the 21 which came in behind the 1, quite shocking right until you realise the vast majority will go direct into Eldon Square instead and choose not to walk from Market Street, makes you wonder if these passengers purchase a Angel weekly saver as it is £2 cheaper than a purple week pass or are paying a £1 more for use of the X21 as well as that get packed if the 21 doesn't show up first.
Either way some needs to be done with service whether if that is by increasing frequency or purchasing higher capacity deckers which would mean going tri-axle.
(05 Dec 2018, 11:02 pm)Malarkey So since moving to my new location a month ago I have become a daily user of the 21 and I think Go North East could do with looking to improve the service during the peak period on a morning and evening.
I have noticed when on 9am starts the 21 which i'd use into Newcastle after serving the Low Fell "The Cannon" where it leaves at full capacity including standees leaves quite a lot of passengers at the stops which follow through to Gateshead, on Monday I was the last person to get on at my location and the driver would not allow anyone else on, this allowed me to a rough head count at each stop as we passed at slow speed, my calculations were quite shocking a full bus were left standing at the stops between Low Fell and Gateshead, what is more interesting is how many of those people manage to get on the next 21 that comes, likelihood this would be equally as busy.
The main problem is with the service going straight through the middle of large housing areas those who don't have a direct service to Eldon Square, therefore they'll walk several minutes to the nearest stop.
I think perhaps have some short runs from the Angel Of The North could perhaps reduce capacity issues on the 21, some will say well you have 1 which uses deckers surely this would solve the issue, I used the 1 yesterday into work to which 4 people got on with me, the remaining 15+ passengers got the 21 which came in behind the 1, quite shocking right until you realise the vast majority will go direct into Eldon Square instead and choose not to walk from Market Street, makes you wonder if these passengers purchase a Angel weekly saver as it is £2 cheaper than a purple week pass or are paying a £1 more for use of the X21 as well as that get packed if the 21 doesn't show up first.
Either way some needs to be done with service whether if that is by increasing frequency or purchasing higher capacity deckers which would mean going tri-axle.
(06 Dec 2018, 10:34 am)Andreos1 I've mentioned the issues with the 21 many times in the past and believe that relying on the service on such a long route, operating on a key corridor is a poor operational decision.
The X21 now stopping in Low Fell has released some pressure on the 21, but not all of it.
The suggestion above with my X11 was designed with the 21 in mind again.
In the past I have suggested local services (24, 25, 26 etc) make a return. It would then leave the 21 as a viable option for longer distances.
You rightly point out that the 1 is an option. If passengers are happy walking to the centre of town (just look at where it stops in comparison to the days of yore at Worswick Street or when the 21's terminated at Pilgrim St and the issues that people supposedly had then).
Passenger levels will reach their natural plateau soon (if they haven't already), as there are only so many people living on the route who are travelling to Newcastle and willing to travel by bus.
To maintain that plateau, the service needs to be reliable and attractive. If its not, numbers will drop and those who have an alternative mode of transport or are able to chose their destination - will do so.
If you look at Old Durham Road and the services on there (local and distance; stopping and limited stop), it makes you wonder why they don't offer something similar along Durham Road.
(06 Dec 2018, 10:34 am)Andreos1 I've mentioned the issues with the 21 many times in the past and believe that relying on the service on such a long route, operating on a key corridor is a poor operational decision.
The X21 now stopping in Low Fell has released some pressure on the 21, but not all of it.
The suggestion above with my X11 was designed with the 21 in mind again.
In the past I have suggested local services (24, 25, 26 etc) make a return. It would then leave the 21 as a viable option for longer distances.
You rightly point out that the 1 is an option. If passengers are happy walking to the centre of town (just look at where it stops in comparison to the days of yore at Worswick Street or when the 21's terminated at Pilgrim St and the issues that people supposedly had then).
Passenger levels will reach their natural plateau soon (if they haven't already), as there are only so many people living on the route who are travelling to Newcastle and willing to travel by bus.
To maintain that plateau, the service needs to be reliable and attractive. If its not, numbers will drop and those who have an alternative mode of transport or are able to chose their destination - will do so.
If you look at Old Durham Road and the services on there (local and distance; stopping and limited stop), it makes you wonder why they don't offer something similar along Durham Road.
