(12 Aug 2022, 8:51 pm)Storx wrote Merging the 52/54/55 and X7 is a just a big no unless you want to kill the route for a second time, they tried it before and people voted with their feet.
I don't think the X8 will survive though unless something changes and will merge with the 52 somehow at some point, they're both a bit samey.
I know this isn't a suggestions thread but imo doing either these:
X7 - Do the old 363 route via Fern Drive
52 - Current route to Burradon, then X8 route to Blyth
X8 - Withdrawn
or
X7 - Same
52 - Same extended to Blyth via X8 route
X20 - Additionally serve High Pit and Annitsford like the old X24/X25 omitting Cramlington (they're covered by the 57A and X9 anyway)
X8 - Withdrawn
Haven't decided which would be better but the X20 is a quiet route aswell and Burradon only ever used to have a 30 minute service with the 363/364 for years until they rerouted the X24/X25 through there.
Any more changes to extend the already lengthy X7 journey times will probably will kill it again, possibly unless Arriva extend the Cramlington Routesaver validity into Seaton Valley to compensate. The fares are already far to high for Seaton Valley and have been for too long IMHO.