(11 Dec 2022, 10:12 pm)Unber43 wrote 21 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Low Fell - Chester-Le-Street (every 60 mins)
21 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Low Fell - Chester-Le-Street - Waldridge Park (every 60 mins)
21 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Low Fell - Chester-Le-Street - Ouston (every 60 mins)
21 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Low Fell - Chester-Le-Street - Great Lumley - Houghton - Seaham (every 60 mins) [71 Withdrawn]
21 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Low Fell - Chester-Le-Street - Arnison Centre - Durham - Bowburn (every 30 mins)
Angel 22
22 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Team Valley - Birtley - Chester-Le-Street - Durham - Brandon (every 30 mins)
The second idea of a 21 being extended to Waldridge was fulfilled just over ten years back by the 22 (which for the most part covered the present-day Waldridge section of 34, at least the Whitehill Way part). As I recall, it carried limited numbers and wasn't worth its while. The idea to essentially reestablish the old 21A (and the 735 before it) is not a bad one but in this execution, the merging with the 71 and the consequent need to extend this to Seaham would simply be too much. The 21A/735 used to be operated - albeit slightly tightly on the Houghton end - with a PVR of two. A Bowburn extension from Durham is as nonsensical as the extension to Brandon, which I am amazed is still yet to be chopped.
The 34 as it currently exists is generally pretty busy and connects two large housing areas with the town centre as well as allowing people to travel between the two (which a surprising number do). Aside from its recent foray into Pelton to cover for the loss of the 78 - in hindsight, a silly decision which has since been rectified - I can see no reason why the 34 would or should be further altered.