(03 Jan 2015, 6:38 pm)tyresmoke wrote Everything is quiet at the moment though being January - even our 5's are carrying small loads whereas before Christmas we had standing loads. The express version of the 7 is the train - you couldn't really compete with that, journey time wise.
I agree, and disagree. It's obvious that a bus cannot really compete with regards to journey time, when the train can get you from A to B in 16 minutes. An 'Anytime' single costs £7.20, though.
Go North East operate express bus services between Sunderland / Newcastle and Middlesbrough with high passenger numbers. For example, the Northern Rail train takes 58 minutes (at a cost of £10.40 for a single) whereas the X7 takes 1hr 23m (with a day ticket costing about £3.00 less than the £10.40 train single fare).
Appreciate this isn't the 'Service Suggestions' thread, but surely Arriva could therefore compete by introducing a limited hourly(?) 'X7' express service operating between Durham and Darlington, going straight down the A1, offering a lower single cost than the competing train? Imagine the journey time would take about 30mins from A to B, so if the demand was there...