(17 Nov 2014, 6:36 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Would the reliability of the 56 improve if GNE added 6099 allowing the service more layover time and better timing points? I'ce notcied that the three main trunk road routes (21, 56 and 308) always tend to get delayed for some reason or another. I think it is down to high passenger usage and not only that, but also people making short hops with the wrong change. I know people don't want to go down the Lothian Route but I think if GNE did it with the 21 and 56 and Arriva did it with their 43, 44, 45, 306 and 308 with clear publicised fare zones and prices, reliability would improve massively. Everytime I got a slightly late 43, if only a small number of people got on in Lockey Park (Wideopen) with the wrong change (£5, £10, £20), it would always end up running 10 minutes late. Both operators should consider it.
I think the 56 stopping at every single stop, between Concord and Sunderland, doesn't help matters. I wonder how well running 3x 56s an hour, and 3x X56s an hour would work? Having half boards setup to run 56 one way and X56 the other way, and the other half to do the opposite. Would allow a lot more flexibility in making up time.