RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
(05 Dec 2018, 11:02 pm)Malarkey wrote So since moving to my new location a month ago I have become a daily user of the 21 and I think Go North East could do with looking to improve the service during the peak period on a morning and evening.
I have noticed when on 9am starts the 21 which i'd use into Newcastle after serving the Low Fell "The Cannon" where it leaves at full capacity including standees leaves quite a lot of passengers at the stops which follow through to Gateshead, on Monday I was the last person to get on at my location and the driver would not allow anyone else on, this allowed me to a rough head count at each stop as we passed at slow speed, my calculations were quite shocking a full bus were left standing at the stops between Low Fell and Gateshead, what is more interesting is how many of those people manage to get on the next 21 that comes, likelihood this would be equally as busy.
The main problem is with the service going straight through the middle of large housing areas those who don't have a direct service to Eldon Square, therefore they'll walk several minutes to the nearest stop.
I think perhaps have some short runs from the Angel Of The North could perhaps reduce capacity issues on the 21, some will say well you have 1 which uses deckers surely this would solve the issue, I used the 1 yesterday into work to which 4 people got on with me, the remaining 15+ passengers got the 21 which came in behind the 1, quite shocking right until you realise the vast majority will go direct into Eldon Square instead and choose not to walk from Market Street, makes you wonder if these passengers purchase a Angel weekly saver as it is £2 cheaper than a purple week pass or are paying a £1 more for use of the X21 as well as that get packed if the 21 doesn't show up first.
Either way some needs to be done with service whether if that is by increasing frequency or purchasing higher capacity deckers which would mean going tri-axle.
I've mentioned the issues with the 21 many times in the past and believe that relying on the service on such a long route, operating on a key corridor is a poor operational decision.
The X21 now stopping in Low Fell has released some pressure on the 21, but not all of it.
The suggestion above with my X11 was designed with the 21 in mind again.
In the past I have suggested local services (24, 25, 26 etc) make a return. It would then leave the 21 as a viable option for longer distances.
You rightly point out that the 1 is an option. If passengers are happy walking to the centre of town (just look at where it stops in comparison to the days of yore at Worswick Street or when the 21's terminated at Pilgrim St and the issues that people supposedly had then).
Passenger levels will reach their natural plateau soon (if they haven't already), as there are only so many people living on the route who are travelling to Newcastle and willing to travel by bus.
To maintain that plateau, the service needs to be reliable and attractive. If its not, numbers will drop and those who have an alternative mode of transport or are able to chose their destination - will do so.
If you look at Old Durham Road and the services on there (local and distance; stopping and limited stop), it makes you wonder why they don't offer something similar along Durham Road.
'Illegitimis non carborundum'