(23 Mar 2024, 12:06 pm)Storx wrote Most these are covered by alternative services though for the local runs; 1, 2, 57, 57A etc. Admit not as frequent but surely you'd be better off trying to grow those routes.

I'd imagine the Regent Centre customers will be the first to move across considering you can get integrated tickets which would be substantially cheaper than having to get 2 products as now. 

We just have very different opinions on the train usage and I think, personally, it'll be much much greater than you predict and will impact the routes big time. Like personally I wouldn't be surprised if one of the Ashington buses started going via Cramlington and open more links as the Cramlington links are still poor from most parts of Bedlington etc.

As a few examples, none of the following flows are covered by the 1/2/57/57A:

• Newcastle to Cramlington Industrial Estate
  
• Newcastle to Guide Post/Bedlington
  
• Regent Centre to Cramlington Industrial Estate
  
• Regent Centre to Bedlington/Bedlington Station/Ashington/Guide Post/Stakeford/Newbiggin
  
• Cramlington Industrial Estate to Bedlington Station/Stakeford/Nedderton/Bedlington (west end/towards Rothesay Terrace)/Newbiggin/Ashington (bar the town centre)
  

Regent Centre to anywhere on the Northumberland Line would require either 2 changes (at South Gosforth and Northumberland Park) or a trip into town first to change at Central. If you've got a direct bus who is going to do that given it'll take longer? 

I think there'll be an impact on the bus in some areas, particularly because of the recent impacts of driver shortages and cancelled trips, but as someone who has had a lot of exposure to these services there are a large amount of passengers who won't be able to complete their trips on the Northumberland Line.