(05 Aug 2021, 8:33 pm)Ambassador wrote Seems a fairly sensible set of changes. Numbers are never going to return to what they are, COVID has changed how we live and work forever.
The 5 day week is dead so it’s only right the industry adapts.
From a personal point of view.
925 ending not a surprise and was only ever a token gesture that never merited the bus,
28/28A changes finally mark the end of the illustrious 709/728 legacy. It’s not ideal for those in Pelton Fell but the new housing popping up around there isn’t encouraging public transport use. I’m confused as to why it’s moving out of Eldon Square though? Market Street is the arse end of town. Whitehall Road makes little sense either unless Bentham Bank is causing congestion issues
I’d have been tempted to run maybe a few 28s a day to Beamish fast via the A693 which might happen if the B1 doesn’t last. (Tif it’d be quicker than the B1)
Genuinely surprised at the X22 being upgraded and branded, Even pre pandemic I was normally one of a handful of passengers but it must do the business (or metro centre are incentivising)
Not sure I’d be entirely thrilled as 53/54 commuter to be diverted via the Quayside, spending more time in traffic on my game changing bus.
Personally I don't get why they don't just extend the 28 to Stanley. Ending it at Ouston is just a weird place to end it and it would give a direct link from Stanley to Gateshead and Team Valley which is being lost and keep the Beamish and villages in the area a direct link to Gateshead and Newcastle.
Pelton is by far getting the worse service changes out of anywhere. Lost links to Consett, Newcastle, Gateshead and a service decrease on the 8/78 from 15 minutes to every 30 minutes. Feel sorry for people living there.
Could just use the bus wasted on the B1 to run the extension.