(24 May 2023, 10:17 pm)Storx wrote This might come as a bit controversial from me but personally I wouldn't be bothered about some PVR reductions, if the changes were sensible.

Like to pick an example the 1 and X1 between Darlington and Tow Law. There's probably too much capacity there so why not up the 1 to every 20 minutes, ran by Deckers and scrap the X1. You've reduced the PVR but at the same time increased the frequency so it's a win/win.

Other examples are stuff like the 6 and 7 in Hartlepool. Would it really be the end of the world if they were both reduced to every 15 minutes but then allocated Decker's instead. Same / more capacity, less driver's / vehicles and there's no big difference between every 10 and 15 minutes really. Even the likes of the 30/31/36 in Newcastle could arguably fit that then those MMC's could be used to sort out the singles problem if they could get some of the displaced Deckers elsewhere as long as ran the 30/31 all the way through in the West End, a 15 minute service would be more than enough for the core of the route.

There has been some examples of it ie. 1 and 2 at Blyth, X66/X67 merger at Darlington but across the main it's not happening - they're sensible cuts imo. Removing routes altogether on the other hand isn't or reducing frequencies with the same buses as that's leaving no future growth.

There is a huge difference between 10 and 15 mins, if its 10 mins if ones late it will only be another 10 mins, so a 20 mins wait, if a 15 min service doesn't run that will be 30 mins, if one doesn't run and the one behind it gets busy that its 15 mins late, then it goes out of service thats a 45 min wait instead of 30. 

10 to 12 is no issue really, its only upto an extra 4-6 mins if one doesn't run (waiting 12, 24, 36 etc).