(23 Mar 2024, 12:00 am)mb134 wrote Morpeth, a place with a population roughly half of Ashington, sustains a 15 minute express bus (journey time 33 mins) frequency to Newcastle while having a train service which takes just 14 minutes. I assume those services are simply full of passengers from economic hubs such as Felton, Longhorsley, Ulgham, Shilbottle, and Thropton?

I'm not sure Morpeth is comparable. 

Considering the X14/X15 and X18 (not counting the X16 as it's not commercial) take 30 minutes or so in comparison to nearer an hour from Ashington and also go places well beyond it such as Alnwick, Amble, Seahouses etc so have some flows going in the opposite direction against the peaks. No-one is travelling to Ashington from Newcastle etc unless you really need to.

Also there's no buses that serve any of the housing ie. Stobhill towards Newcastle which are near the train station.