(18 May 2018, 10:49 am)Jamie M wrote I agree with the changes, and I hope that soon there's a point where operators concerned arrive at a point where the timetables are perfected and don't change as much as they have in the past. The only real way I can judge if a change is working is if it remains without changes. For example with the 11. I started being interested in the affairs with the 96 that stopped at Gateshead. Then it went to Newcastle, then it got merged with something else and became the 11. There were more 11 trips then, one that terminated at Howdon, that's since disappeared, and the Gateshead side of the 11 on an evening is still as disastrous as the 96 was. It's impossible to remember the times and everybody who gets on the bus must check the Nexus timetable outside the stop (which aren't really that trustworthy).

I agree with the concept of what's going on, and the combining of routes, providing easier marked connections all along. I think it's also close to the point where commercial changes do become temporary or additional trips and become sparse. The Gateshead/Derwentside area has remained reliable and a great service for the past year (except from that pesky 11!!), especially during the evenings too, almost impeccable. Just hope there aren't (m)any plans to cut and paste sections of route around the place that have been cut and paste enough up until now.

Rambling from now on...

It's odd of me being arguing this, since none of my extended family nor friends ever take the bus anywhere due to the expense. If I calculated my commutes by car and by bus, it would end up costing the same in fuel as various tickets, but one would get me there in 30 minutes, another 2 hours or more. The bus was perfect for heading to college and back since all was well connected, but the second you want to be in a specific place at a specific time, the car becomes a lot more desirable. The weekly shop also, I've only ever seen one person do their huge shop on a regular basis then get on the bus with their 7 bags of clutter. People generally go to the shops in their car, and often straight after work, so that's then more potential customers not getting on the bus. I think there's a need of more workers services at peak times to places. Could get 2 birds with one stone by making the evening workers return drop off at shops. Stanley to Lobley Hill to Northumberland Park. Then on the return goes via ASDA and Metrocentre before continuing to Stanley and extending to Plain's Tescos. Obviously needs council support, but I think something like that would start to get people see the practicality in buses that could start more acceptance of long-term car users. Fewer connections and fewer prices without drastically extending times of trips could further sell this. Just about where the people are and where they want to generally go, I guess.

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