(01 Jul 2021, 11:21 am)Adrian wrote I disagree with you there. The Little Pinks network is clearly designed around operational efficiency, rather than the customer. There are still a number of issues that exist from when the Galleries split first happened.
The Galleries terminus still allows through-fares, but it is not possible to get a return fare, other than from Concord. For example, the 84 becomes an 82 at the Galleries and continues to Birtley, but on the return leg, that 82 becomes an 83 at the Galleries and serves a completely different set of stops between the Galleries and Concord. As there's no route saver tickets available, nor an area saver that covers the whole route, it leaves you needing a Purple Zone Go Zones ticket to cover the return journey via 3 buses.
Despite the through-journeys still existing, they are no longer advertised on the GNE timetable and have never been shown on the bus stop timetables (Nexus advised me that it wasn't possible, as they print timetables to the same standard throughout the network). So only those with knowledge of the services will know they don't have to get onto another bus at the Galleries. This isn't helpful to customers, especially those that infrequently use buses.
2/2A were removed from being circulars not long after they started iirc, as it was originally the 2A(nti-clockwise) and 2C(lockwise)
I believe the 493 served the bus link, rather than round the back of Parkway. I think the 297(?) was the last bus to serve the route on a hail and ride basis, but to be honest its not even suitable for that. All the verges at the side of the road are sloped and its one big bend to drive round. Despite being hail and ride, the bus was supposed to stop at the far end of the loop before it returns back on itself, but quite often you'd get someone hitting the bell just after the Titchfield Road junction and the drivers refusing to stop again until the next actual stop - which was Biddick School at the time.
I've discovered this timetable which might contradict that given it doesnt say Biddick Village Centre. Also i think someone should just try it anyway because it would avoid people living in those streets walking all the way to the centre (i know cause i lived in that area for a little while.)
