(13 Aug 2013, 3:43 pm)Daniel wrote Following on from discussion in the Go North East discussion thread, I thought I would draft out some of my suggestions here...
Assuming more people are like me and switch to the X9 from the X7 at Peterlee heading towards Middlesbrough, I would personally time the X7 so that it was 30 minutes before/after the X9. This would mean that the X9 did not arrive Peterlee earlier than the X7, and passengers would be best off staying on the X7 - providing they didn't want the WiFi and/or plug sockets and would prefer to wait 30 minutes in a bus station and get to Middlesbrough later than they should have done!
If Go North East were to do this, they could boast about having a thirty minute frequency between their services from Peterlee to Middlesbrough.
I would also ensure that a guaranteed connection at Peterlee to the X35 from the X9 was put in place - a better connection than the one at present. Again, this would allow for a thirty minute frequency between their services from Peterlee to Sunderland.
Ideally, Go North East need to run their service ahead of any competition from Arriva too - they should be aiming to steal the competition's passengers!
Isnt the X7 timed of Peterlee bus station just before Arriva North East 21A leaves Peterlee Bus station. What happens if you do get off the X7 at Peterlee bus station and you wait for the X9, but either the X9 is really late due to earlier disruption on A19 or held up in Gateshead or Newcastle, or even that certain X9 doesn't run due to breakdown etc..., you might aswell stick it out on the X7 all the way to Middlesbrough.
GNE X9 and X10 jointly provide a 30 minute service between Peterlee and Middlesbrough, even though the X9 stops a couple of more stops than the X10 in Peterlee area.