(29 Apr 2020, 1:31 pm)cbma06 wrote Service 8 used to be the X8, service 2 series used to be the X2, there’s no demand for an express service between Sunderland and Washington.
Yea the X95 used to go via Concord, X95 to Seaham Parkside and the X96 to Seaham Harbour but got extended to Peterlee when service 233 got withdrawn between Seaham and Peterlee, new every half hourly service X2 slowly killed off the X95 as GNE wanted all express services via Galleries
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Im not sure there's no demand for an express service between the two points, I just don't think it would work.
Assuming you live in North Sunderland. It is still going to be quicker and easier to get a 56 and then a 4. Than it would be to go to Park Lane and come back on yourself.
Someone, living in Fatfield but working in Sunderland City centre would probably find it quicker getting a 2 or an 8 all the way; than a bus to the Galleries and then wait for an express.
To make it quick, would mean limiting the number of places it stops. Which would then limit how many fares it would take on short hops, which could supplement the longer fares and boost viability.
As attractive as it may be for some, I think any failure would be a legacy of the current network model.