(12 Dec 2022, 3:52 am)Drifter60 wrote I mean I do love reading some of these suggestions!I merged it with the 21 as it would get to Newcastle hopefully within about 90-100 mins, the 25 it would be 2 hours on a good day.
The 21 suggestion is confusing, no two ways about it. Although extensions to Bowburn (presumably via Shincliffe and then terminating at Amazon?) is a good idea, and the 71 being bolted onto a 21 isn’t a *bad idea*, as it would open new connections. Buses direct to Newcastle, Gateshead, Birtley etc across the 71 route would be good however keep the 21 out of it, merging the 25 with 71 would be a better solution, appreciating they’re both secured services these days but it would maybe be a decent idea if local authorities could work together to offer a more joined up network. I don’t see they need for Waldridge or Ouston extensions although I’m guessing it was at the expense of the 34? But I’m not sure that really works. You’re also proposing doubling the number of 21s (or 22s) between Durham and CLS, if you’re sending 2 buses to Brandon and 2 buses to Bowburn each hour.
There’s a few white elephants in your suggestions. What’s the point in this 55 route? The 62 route also, who’s that for? No one in Seaham or Murton are going to Sunderland city centre on your 62 proposal as it’ll take a good chunk longer than a 60 and 61 would. So the next question is there really a need for anyone in Seaham or Murton to want to go to Plains Farm or Thornhill? I’m thinking no. And as for a direct link to Doxford, I’m not sure it’s needed when connections to Doxford are relatively easily done at Ryhope. Not to mention those from Murton will probably find it’s quicker to get a 61/39 than travel via Dawdon and Seaham before even getting to New Seaham!
A few of your suggestions, whilst I appreciate what you’re doing, are replacing mini bus solo operated route into larger double decker services, and I’m not sure a Xlines decker is needed around Horden Hall Estate or if direct connections to Newcastle are top of the list of what people need. I’d guess people in Peterlee would rather have more regular services to local communities in Easington, Blackhall, Shotton and South Hetton and perhaps better integration to the local main centres of Durham, Seaham and Hartlepool.
It would cut the 34 down to every 30 mins, cutting the PVR by 1 to 2.
55/62 were to become local links to Doxford from Seaham and Murton which they're missing, and the 55 to create a quick services to sunderland at a high frequency instead of going straight down the A690.
209/210 was to try and get more people to use the bus as changing in peterlee isn't the best however if there was a service whcih they can get without changing it would probs attract them to use the bus more, if it did get added to the X1, it would still have links to Easington/Blackhall, South Hetton however I would try and incorporate all peterlee services into bigger services with better links.