(24 Jul 2022, 4:04 pm)peter wrote I agree that the new setup with the 81/82/83/25 daytime vs evening is overly confusing. Can't see the 8 being changed however as of course that's commercial where the rest are contracted. Personally I think the 25/82/82A should be merged into the 81/83, providing a half hourly service from Gateshead to Washington to Barmston Court extending to Waterview Park/Sunderland on evenings/Sundays. Only downside is you're reducing connectivity taking away the link to Chester
Yeah that wouldn't be a bad shout either, I don't believe the 81 is going to Sunderland on an evening though is it? There's just absolutely no service at all now which is a bit crap imo.
Suppose if you made those changes you could extend the TB14 to Chester Le Street since the TB23/24 would pretty much become redundant additionally serving Elisabeth Avenue which would keep the Chester Links.
Personally though I'd like to see more co-operation even if it does mean changing routes a bit. I'm not sure GNE would be bothered if they got the 25 on a permanent deal without it going out for a tender and I don't really get the point of the 8, it's such a long route offering nothing unique either side of CLS - Washington really, at least with the 81 all day. Birtley and Low Fell would get a direct service to Washington and Sunderland which someone might want rather than another service to CLS.