(15 May 2023, 12:50 pm)Andreos1 wrote They can't subsidise the 25 via a previous route, if the operator decides to change its route and is still operating it on a commercial basis.

Not even GNE are that brazen... 

Yeah, changing at Wrekenton isn't convenient at all. In fact it's a pain. Pretty grim and certainly not somewhere I'd want an elderly relative on hospital visiting duties to hang around. 
Never mind a family member on their way back from an outpatient appointment.

You misread that I think I meant split it into two so you'd have the short 25 then the long 25 obv different numbers though. 

See personally I disagree, subsidised services should be about linking places that have no reasonable journeys at all ie having to double back on yourself or the only bus service in that area. Tax payer funds shouldn't be spent on making journeys 'easier' for a select few. 

Realistically how many people are going to be travelling from Portobello to the hospital to warrant a subsidised service - it would literally be cheaper to get a taxi for them. The rest of Birtley has the 28 to do that journey. 

The money long term arguably would be better spent making Wrekenton a nice place to interchange imo and if they don't like Wrekenton they could always change at Washington Galleries either which is fine. 

It's the same as the W2 which I really don't understand why it still exists when the 51 does the same flows. I could understand if they weren't butchering subsidised flows elsewhere. It's political imo.

I'll be very surprised if it averages single numbers (expect it to be close to 0) nvm double numbers.