(06 Jul 2023, 11:27 am)Storx Can't imagine there's any bus service like that as it just doesn't make sense.
There's plenty of services where people would do A - B, B - C, and C - D but no-one unless they're mentally insane would do A - D. The 10, 27, 56 (all GNE), 43 (Morpeth) and X18 (both Arriva) to pick some.
There’s a few examples like the 1, whereby really the cross city link is often just the best way to operate it. Things like the 20 and 2/2A are two separate services just merged together, that’s not say cross city links aren’t used though. But I’m the 2/2A case if you wanted to go Silksworth to Royal Hospital you’d probably save time using the 33 or Stagecoach. And clearly the 20 is operational reasons as otherwise Durham and Langley Park is miles from the nearest GNE depot.
The X21 is a bit like that also, despite what is sometimes spoke about on this forum is there many people really going from Bishop Auckland to Newcastle?! It exists a through route for two reasons, 1) there’s not depot in Durham so makes operational sense to tack it on the end of something else 2) Bonus, of the cross Durham links to the Arnison Centre & Hospital.
The 50 is another route which sorts of two stretches Washington to South Shields and then Washington to Durham. But if someone did want to go Durham to South Shields the 50 would probably the best way, but I don’t think it’s a common travel link?
And The 4 is the closest to what you say, there wouldn’t be much reason of anyone using it from Houghton to Washington point to point as the X1 does it quicker. If you were going Houghton to Heworth, you’d be best going X1 to Galleries then the 4, that what I used to do.
