(25 Jul 2015, 2:29 pm)GX03 SVC wrote What I'm trying to do is keep things simple while changing the perception of Sapphire X21/X22. Having the X31/32/33 return is going to earn feck all as it will confuse passengers and drive them away from the bus.
Having my plan will see the X21/22 change to X41/42 with a revised Sapphire brand which will be easy to apply to the existing 14-plates!
The thing about having three normal routes to Newcastle is if there is capacity in Ashington and Haymarket bus stations.
Well, the X31 and X32 would use stand P and the X33 would fall in between a departing Sapphire service and the next one due to come in for a 7-8 minute layover. Got to remember that people know it's supposedly an express service however, a straight through route from Ashington to Newcastle would take just over 50 minutes as opposed to nearly an hour through trying to balance the books with one service taking the longer route between Ashington and Bedlington with the other doing the same between Bedlington and Newcastle. That is what is turning people off the X21 / X22 services and a clear rebrand and restructure is needed so people know the difference which would put things right. People on the Ryton corridor have no problem with a combined 10 minute service as well as a standalone 30 minute service. They know that if they need to get into Newcastle quickly, they can use Toon Link 11 and if they just want the first bus that comes, then they've got 8 services per hour to choose from.