(03 Oct 2021, 10:29 pm)Jimmi wrote The only thing diversions into the likes of the Arnison Centre is increased journey times, passengers in Langley Park weren't best pleased that the more direct 13 service was replaced with the X20 (old 14) due to the increased journey time (but, but, Xlines... Better Than Ever?!).Tyneside Retail Park could benifit from a link to Hexham. But I also think Team Valley has been left for Death for about a decade really., that needs loads of regeneration.
I do think there is some potential for some more links to places like the Arnison Centre but some sadly do come at the cost of increased journey times although retail parks have been badly served for a long while especially in the North East, Team Valley retail Park is a bit of a walk away but Teesside Park has been the worst for years for poor accessibility by public transport where until the last few years aside from a half hourly bus from Stockton during the daytimes the nearest stopping service was the 36/37/38 with around 10 mins walk along a rather grim looking road next to the railway line.
As well as retail parks I think more services could be diverted into or at least near places of employment and education, I mean think even some X20 trips could be sent via Doxford International as from the Durham direction passengers are expected to get off on the main road with a bit of a walk to the site or change at Houghton to a 55 (assuming connection times even work well enough), Stagecoach diverting their X24 (as X24A) via Doxford hasn't done them any harm, if anything it's helped them as have actually seen people boarding the afternoon one there when I've been doing some spotting/observing there before.
Think there's still some more potential for some cross city links in Durham although more so with Arriva now than GNE such as sending either the 6 or 7 to the Arnison Centre.
RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2