(02 Mar 2013, 11:49 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote Just reading complaints about the 21 on the Quality Contracts page and I've left this comment on it, so I'm post it on here to.
The problem with the 21 is A.) The 7/8 Minutes Frequency and B.) The 21 which terminates at Chester le Street if that is running late then obviously there is going to be 2/3 coming together and also the swap over can cause even more lateness would also lead to 2/3 buses coming together.
So here is my suggestion.
21 Durham - Chester le Street - Gateshead - Newcastle - Every 10 Minutes
Then Re-Route the one as far Chester le Street and Re-Number it 21A, The route would then be.
21A Chester le Street - Birtley - Eighton Banks - Wrekenton - QE Hospital - Gateshead - Newcastle Pilgrim Street - Every 15 Minutes
Perhaps a possible extension to Langley Park would then displace the X25 also the 28 between Chester le Street and Newcastle. Which then lead to the 28 following the 28A route and also increasing the frequency to every 15 minutes along the current 28A route.
This would also free up some buses on the PVR for the X25
GNE aren't going to divert buses away from Durham Road corridor if they can help it. It's a money pit.
The problem is that there isn't enough leeway in the timetable to achieve 7/8min frequency. All it takes is a slight delay and the timetable goes to pot then you get the usual termination at Gateshead, Sorry Not In Service runs and buses just being pulled altogether.
The traffic problems throughout Birtley (20mph speed limit) and Low Fell (just a nightmare really) are not GNE's fault but its only going to get worse when major construction starts shortly in Birtley on the new supermarket which will introduce more traffic signals...but timetabling is. People would be far more understanding if they said every 15 minutes as opposed to waiting nigh on half hour for a 7/8 min service.
Diverting a 21A up through Wrekenton won't alleviate the delay in Birtley and when the weather gets bad the Long Bank up to Eighton Banks becomes impassable anyway.
Durham doesn't require a service every 10 minutes, especially with Pronto and the X2 and National Rail services
I'm showing my age here but the 21 has only ever run on time when it was run by Classic during the mini bus war, GNE's opposing 221 never actually ran on time, hence the Classic success