(28 Feb 2019, 7:09 pm)tyresmoke wrote Struggle to see anything being spent on the 81, it barely survives as it is.
Where I think there could be mileage is an improved service between Middlesbrough & Saltburn, with perhaps a seasonal 20 minute frequency on the X4 all the way to Whitby. How you'd thread the X3s in between that I don't know, potentially just running the one an hour upto Lingdale, turning the rest at Saltburn to help pay for it.
I've often compared the 81 with the old GNE 71.
Something that works (just), but with a bit of work and consolidation, it could work better.
GNE obviously merged the 71 with something else and whilst I still think it's far from perfect, merging the 81 with something that's already sustainable - may be an option.
It's not going to cost much more to extend an odd 63 to Guisborough from Redcar, replacing the 81 for example. How they do it, whilst ensuring all areas served by the 81 are maintained, is another matter like.
It still doesn't solve my Saltburn - Guisborough conundrum though.