(15 May 2023, 8:16 am)Storx wrote I haven't been on the E200's so can't comment on them but if it's the rattly things that were at Percy Main that's debateable. One of them is borderline unbearable especially one of the loose grab rails.
There's no point as it duplicates the 25/28 which I believe they might take a financial risk with the fares on.
There's no point in the 82 at all beyond Birtley imo and the way things have been cut lately should've been the first to go.
It's almost a duplicate of the Nexus funded 727 (which replicated the Northern 721 and offered a 30min frequency between Barley Mow and Gateshead via Elisabethville and the QE).
If the 25 hadn't been diverted away from the QE, I'd argue the northern 82 extension wouldn't exist at all.
Without it, punters in various parts of Birtley wouldn't have that link to the hospital, bus companies would complain about traffic/demand more bus lanes etc. Repeat ad finum.
Is it an effective use of taxpayers money? Probably not.
Does it provide an important link to a key location. Aye.
Should Nexus need to fill the gap due to commercial operators continuing to make their fleet smaller and increase cost savings? Of course not.