(23 Aug 2016, 2:34 pm)GX03 SVC wrote MAX X20 - to run limited stop between Wansbeck Hospital and Newcastle Haymarket bus station, to improve journey times for passengers to/from Northumberland. Calling at the following points only:
Wansbeck Hospital
Ashington Bus Station
Ashington Hirst Welfare Centre
North Seaton Academy
North Seaton Fairfield Drive
Regent Centre Interchange*
Gosforth Brandling Arms*
Newcastle Barras Bridge southbound only*
Newcastle Haymarket Bus Station
*Towards Newcastle, buses call to set down only. Towards Northumberland, buses call to pick up only. This is to reduce idling times when "short hop" fares are issued, when passengers can use another service.
I use the X20 several times a week and don't think going "limited stop" would speed it up. Stopping a couple of times when negotiating the roads out of Ashington pales into insignificance when compared to the time that can be spent sitting in traffic jams at peak times. If any time is lost in Ashington at bus stops it can be made up on the dual carriageways later.
People catching an express bus to go 2 stops along the road does annoy me though... Perhaps on corridors where there are other buses Express services should have single fare levels that are more expensive than local services. That way people will only catch the express for a short journey once. It wouldn't stop concessionary pass holders though.