(02 Sep 2023, 5:03 pm)Storx wrote See, I could get that if it was a sensible place to connect but can't really see where anyone would want to.

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Personally I always think bus stations are bad as one of the massive advantages of buses is they can get right into the heart of the city and stop at numerous spots which a car can't where you usually have to park away from where you want to be. So let's say if it was Newcastle, you could get your bus from Gosforth right through to Central Station and then gradually head back to the top end of Northumberland Street and get on (which you can do with the Metro). Once you start sticking a bus station at places like Haymarket it loses that advantage over the car, so why bother?

It's even worse if it's somewhere like Sunderland, Durham and Bishop Auckland where all 3 bus stations are in the backend of nowhere and the car actually has an advantage.

I know I've mentioned it before but it works well in Darlington where you can get on/off at Northgate but then have the choice to use Tubwell Row instead which are pretty much both ends of the town. I'd also love to see some councils to reverse some pedestrianisation schemes and get buses closer to the action in some places aswell.

Having a bus station doesn't stop buses serving the heart of town and city centres, I'd say it actually improves their ability to do so, if done correctly.

You can use Durham as an example, seeing as they're temporarily without a bus station. North Road is chaos, and you can't get moved. The buses struggle to get on correct stands, and there's no space for layovers or welfare facilities for staff.

Attracting people back to town and city centres is a huge part of regeneration programmes, and transport stations play a role in that. A proper, dry and safe waiting environment, rather than being stood out in the rain.

I don't buy the argument that the bus stations are in the back end of nowhere. Sunderland Interchange is a very short walk from the Bridges, Eldon Square is part of Eldon Square shopping centre and a couple minutes walk from Northumberland Street, and Durham is a 5 minute walk from the market place.

I'm not sure why people can go to these centres, walk round for hours shopping, then suddenly lose their ability to walk the short distance back to a bus station?

I do think bus stations could be additionally complimented by running a city circular service in and out of the bus stations. This may provide additional support to the elderly and disabled. Durham has it with the Cathedral bus, Sunderland has it (to a degree) with the 700, but nothing in Newcastle.

(02 Sep 2023, 6:21 pm)RMF1254 wrote Which was what Wallsend was when Metro opened, most services either called or terminated there with staff facilities on site. Deregulation put a stop to all that!

Hopefully, one on the fix list, when we get franchising...!

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