(28 Jan 2015, 4:26 pm)Malarkey wrote From looking at both the 7 and 8 Routes, it looks as though they pretty much follow each other between Darlington and Ferryhill, so therefore I have came up with the following.
7/7A/X7 - Darlington - Tudoe - Aycliffe Village - Newton Aycliffe - Chilton - Ferryhill - Spennymoor (7A) - Croxdale - Durham - Framwellgate Moor
Service 8 Withdrawn and merged into Sapphire Service 7
Operating Every 10 Minutes
A New Peak Time Express will also be Introduced running on a Limited Stopping basis between Darlington and Framwellgate Moor.
I don't think there is much call for a frequent service to Spennymoor from Darlington also don't add any extra places en route which would make the route longer. I think more buses should run to Framwellgate Moor on weekdays at least but I think it would be better to extend the 6 up to Fram as it could swipe the New College students as many choose GNE passes over Arriva on the basis that the X21 runs direct to New College throughout the daytime while the 6 only does on a morning and afternoon. Wouldn't mind an express version of the 7 between Darlington and Durham mind. I think just increasing the current 7 route to every 10 minutes would be best.
The differences between the 7/8 routes are that the 8 runs right through Aycliffe Village then from Aycliffe Town Centre runs via Central Avenue and the A167 to reach Chilton then after Chilton Wheatshaf it runs via Chilton Lane and Ferryhill Station. So still has some differences from the 7 route.