(27 Jan 2024, 8:03 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Would an EV Decker be able to a full day on the X21, i want to design a half hourly competing* route between Newcastle & Spennymoor.
*Would be based on the old 724 route but via Saltwell Park & Central Station instead of Low Fell & Gateshead.
I'm not saying it would work but and big if you wanted to compete against those corridors I'd heading towards Darlington and taking on the 7 instead of the oversaturated Spennymoor corridor.
Maybe something like this: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Newcastl...?entry=ttu
which would be
Newcastle - Gateshead - NON STOP - Heworth - Felling Bypass - Lingley Lane - NON STOP - Concord - NON STOP - Washington Galleries - NON STOP - Carrville - Belmont Ind. Est - NON STOP - Durham - Durham University - Shincliffe - NON STOP - Bowburn (1 Stop Only) - NON STOP - Amazon Durham - Ferryhill - Ferryhill Station - Chilton - Newton Aycliffe - Aycliffe Village - NON STOP - Ashleigh House (North Road) - NON STOP - Morrisons North Road - NON STOP - Odeon Cinema - Darlington
The fact the Amazon is still unserved is poor and you're taking on the 8 and 56 which are neglected by Arriva as an understatement.
You could alternatively go for this route via Sedgefield either which would make the locals happy there - https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Newcastl...?entry=ttu
The links between Washington and Durham are particularly poor aswell, so sending an express via that route which wouldn't be much longer - if at all than via Chester Le Street could proove popular, not to mention it's some competition for the GNE 4/56 and give a fast route from the Concord area towards Newcastle direct.
Obviously GNE wouldn't touch this mind as it would cripple the 4, 50 and 56.