(28 May 2020, 2:07 pm)Andreos1 wrote My own thoughts are that its diversion along Durham Road is to relieve pressure on the 21/X21 whilst ensuring there isn't scope for the X12 or an alternative to grow. Paranoia following the Classic bus war?
I might be totally wrong, but from the outside looking in - that's my interpretation.
It's so they can reduce the frequency of the 1 from Gateshead to Whitley to every 20 minutes. It wouldn't work having the the Wrekenton and Metro Centre parts as you need 4 buses an hour. It obviously doesn't have enough passengers to carry on it's own so they've merged it with the 25 the least of the important buses going towards Wrekenton / Low Fell. All about cost savings and reducing the PVR in my opinion.