(03 Jul 2014, 7:31 pm)Tom wrote Yeah - I've used the 4 from Heworth to Houghton a couple of times, there is usually a big number of passengers using it from Heworth to Washington, and often a decent load to where the Arts Centre is, but there was only about seven or eight people up to Fence Houses where a few boarded. My suggestion would be to have the service running every 7/8 minutes between Heworth and Washington Arts Centre, with the service extending to Houghton every 15 minutes. Another good effect this would have is increased passenger numbers on the 71 from Houghton to Fence Houses as the passengers on the 71 aren't the best as the 4 generally gets the majority of them.
As for the X1, I've noticed most people make the journey from Newcastle straight to Washington (for connections more than likely), and not many people board at other parts of the route. Therefore, I would have the service running every 20 minutes between Easington Lane and Newcastle in it's current form, then a new X6 service operating between Newcastle and Washington direct every 30 minutes, with one extending to Teal Farm, Waterview Park, Seaham, Murton, South Hetton and Peterlee, replacing the 202 which was talked about not long ago.
I personally think the 202 in it's current form should be binned and modify it to goto Murton-Peterlee via Dalton Park, Hawthorn and Easington Village. To deal with the loss to South Hetton, extend a 61 an hour to South Hetton, infact I would like to see GNE modify the 61 and introduce a 61A
61:-
Normal Route
61A:-
When it gets to Murton to go Woods Terrace, Pit Road, Cornwall Estate, Burnip Road, Wellfield Road, Murton Station with 1ph extending to South Hetton...which would probably only add about 15 Minutes to the current timetable I reckon.
Re:- X1 would it not work by splitting the route at Hetton and send one onto Murton or DP and have the frequency every 30 from E.Lane, 1ph from Murton and every 20 mins from Hetton...
My mind is fried right so will have a proper think about it when I can be arsed