(19 Oct 2021, 2:47 pm)Dan I note that the web page was updated this morning to show that the 17:39 journey will now operate.
I'd expect that work will continue through the afternoon to attempt to cover the 18:11 also.
Good to see the 17.39 reinstated, but we'll see what happens with regards to the 18.11. I'm surprised it was ever deemed operationally acceptable (as it was published) to drop the last three trips of the day for a service, without offering up an alternative.
It's clearly not the same as dropping a trip out of something on a 10-15 minute frequency, so there should always be an alternative offered for last journeys of the day. If they end early enough, as the 50 does, then you could for example advise customers to use the 21/X21 and get the Durham-bound 50 for stops between Waldridge and Chester Moor, or connect on to the later running 50s South Shields-bound at Chester-le-Street. You could also say that for the additional 4 minutes the 50 takes to go via Waldridge, a 21 from Durham could have been diverted, which would have only ate into the 4 minutes it has timetabled between the Lambton Arms and Front Street.
It feels to me that the onus is being placed firmly on the customer to find a solution, with an expectation that they'll have enough knowledge to work it out for themselves. Its pointless them using the journey planners, as they advise you to use cancelled trips.
