(17 Sep 2021, 7:33 pm)Jimmi wrote They already had pretty much this exact arrangement a few year back where 22 went to Hartlepool via Peterlee and 24 went to Sunderland and it was not a popular decision, they were swapped round after a few years as people in the Thornley & Wheatley Hill areas wanted a service towards Sunderland and they also had the 58 to Hartlepool running hourly as well at the time (DCC contract service ran by Scarlet Band, since succeeded by the Arriva 57).
I think the current 22/23/24 arrangements are about the best you will achieve as anything else likely requires much more resources that likely won't be viable, given GNE has made some cuts to some of the local routes round Peterlee the demand for short distance town services is likely less attractive option to passengers as most hate making changes and connections especially in the bleak hole that is Peterlee Bus Station.
I've said it before and I'll say it again, what is the obsession on here with sending buses to Hartlepool?! Most of these experimental services in the last few years like the X6 Hartlepool to Sunderland, X55 to Newcastle on Saturdays or even the 230 from Hartlepool to Sunderland via Horden from Pygalls have never taken off, Hartlepool is lower down than some alternative destinations close by to some and those likely making longer journeys would take the train, whenever I've done stuff like 23 & 24 it's mostly just local traffic with most not going much further beyond Peterlee. Can't see the demand being there in 2021 for a direct near non stop bus from Durham City Centre to Hartlepool, most of the stuff in Hartlepool is in Durham City Centre or the nearby retail parks like the Arnison Centre.
Yeah that makes sense then had a feeling Thornley and Wheatley might have had something to do with it and makes sense then.
Honestly didn't really expect many to do the whole route but the dog leg service from Durham to Sunderland via the quicker route just didn't make sense while the Hartlepool to Sunderland and Durham services took the diversions.
Makes sense now though and agreed tbh and let's be honest it might a bit slow it's not really that bad in comparison to say GNE's town services as you mentioned.
Not surprised Arriva done it the way I said though as for someone who doesn't the area that well it definitely on paper seems most sensible.