(26 Jan 2022, 2:59 pm)Storx wrote Probably more to do with the routes imo. Arriva and Stagecoach have some very strong corridors (X10/X11/X21/X22/X15/X18/306/308/6/7/63/64/X93/1: Arriva), (1/39/40/62/63 and so on: SNE). Apart from the 20, 21, 56, 60 and X1. There's nothing that really stands out in terms of making a fortune. On the otherhand they have some very weak routes, (82/83/11/42/42A/5/26/28/29/Peterlee locals).Stagecoach South Shields also have some good loadings, granted that it is a day time, pretty much falls apart in the evening.
X20,55 can get some good loads, mainly with Doxford Park & Colleges's X20 - Durham, New College, Sunderland. - It does get quite busy.
Really the only part of the North East that GNE really have control of is Newcastle going to Consett/Hexham down to Durham-Easington area.
As you have highlighted the 60/56 while they may be popular I thought they would have had new buses (60/56), they could have easily been used for the less popular 57.
I thought GNE were bigger than they were, but they are just shrinking really, yes the 21 extension to brandon, X21 to West Auckland may have worked but then they cut the 208, and gave up around Peterlee and just let the 22/23/24 take over. (granted these aren't as popular as they used to be, but are used a lot by kids from EDC). Whereas I wouldn't say bar the 32/32A SNE don't have many weak routes SC have very intercity routes, with not many terminating, where as GNE are long distance into the city from places 1 hour etc away. GNE could create routes to combat ANE, from Newcastle - Middlesbrough Via Durham. Newcastle - Durham part would be especially busy. As traviling on the 21 past Durham, to Brandon it does get busier, and less are on Arriva, but then you see arriva bus at Durham leaving for Brandon at like 20:00, full and there's the issue.
If GNE are going to do the same thing as Oxford, might be worth just splitting it up into.
Stagecoach will run west of Newcastle/Arriva North/East
GNE run south of Newcastle + hexham/Wallsend etc.