(01 Sep 2021, 1:21 pm)Keeiajs wrote Well I mean the 265 got roughly those numbers aswell.
I think it’s also about services they’re trying market and the competition. The 65 is the only real bus route along its route, other services may do parts but nothing resembles the full route. From Seaham to Hetton/Belmont/Durham your only option is the 65 and vice versa, only other option would be travelling via Sunderland which will undoubtedly take a lot longer.
The X6 competes with Arriva from Peterlee to Sunderland, it also competes with the far frequent 60 from Seaham to Sunderland. That being said the X6 is the only real option linking Peterlee and Seaham Town Centre (alternatives would be the new 62 which takes far too long or using Arriva then switching to the 60/65 at New Seaham, but that would be two operators and takes a lot longer). So the X6 unique parts are somewhat limited, although it does provide much needed connections.
However, I’ve been vocal on the forum a few times, that introducing a new bus (the 62) from Sunderland to Seaham Harbour seems a pointless exercise. Frequency is such a barrier for services succeeding and the difference between a hourly and half hourly route is massive, in my opinion. And having a half hourly X6 makes much more sense to me than the 62 North of Seaham, I can’t see folk in Horden and Easington Colliery using the 62 all the way to Sunderland, the latter has the Arriva 23 anyways. Everywhere else on the 62 route has other routes to Sunderland. Perhaps the X6 should have become the 62, half hourly Sunderland to Peterlee via Seaham, Dalton Park, serving all stops all the way (which wouldn’t add much more time, if any) Then kept the 202 between Peterlee and Seaham but now run via Easington Colliery.