(Yesterday, 6:37 pm)Storx wrote There's also the big problem that barely no-one lives in Durham City Centre, no-one lives in Sunderland City Centre and no-one lives in Houghton Centre so who's it exactly an express for?

imo it needs to go beyond Sunderland or Durham at either end and extend to another town giving them a link to Sunderland and/or Durham depending which end you pick.

Stuff like the X20 in Northumberland is a good example for that, if it only done Ashington to Newcastle, ignoring the train for now, I'd imagine it would be mostly dead aswell, but it gains it passengers giving people from the likes of Lynemouth etc a fast link to Newcastle. The GNE X21 is arguably another one, for similar reasons but towards Bishop instead. 

The 9 or 24 would be the obvious routes using existing routes since they head North of the water and would give a direct express Durham to Stadium of Light link which is quite poor currently without a long walk really without going back on thereself like the now 14 does.

I agree that it needs.to extend past Sunderland. remember when it was first introduced in  97/98, the X20 was Durham - Sunderland - Shields all limited stop and inter worked at Durham with X50 Durham - Washington - Shields.

Those passengers are still out there and could be beneficial to start again at the beginning.

(Yesterday, 6:47 pm)LVK 404L wrote I agree that it needs.to extend past Sunderland. remember when it was first introduced in  97/98, the X20 was Durham - Sunderland - Shields all limited stop and inter worked at Durham with X50 Durham - Washington - Shields.

Those passengers are still out there and could be beneficial to start again at the beginning.

Yeah that's my thoughts aswell. Obviously finding where the flows is key but there's enough to the North of the water where people might want to be, least then it's giving people direct links to places they might want to be. 

I know the 9 doesn't go to many places where people probably want to be but that's the route I'd look at, you'd even get the bonus of reducing the PVR down by one so it's actually a win cost wise aswell so why not try it, it'd still have 9 minutes layover time each end aswell which is more than reasonable with a 81 minute running time end to end. It's arguably better than the 9 sitting around for 25 minutes doing nothing. Efficiencies and all that which people bang on about.

Also side note, looks like the X20 is interworking with the 65 now instead of the 20, just noticed it's flipping stands between D/E which is the 65 stand with a fantastic 2 minute layover at Seaham so I'm sure that'll be keeping on time.

(Yesterday, 3:31 pm)DH9 wrote What were the rumoured changes?

Via Langley Park after Lanchester, then 14/X20 route to Durham.

(Yesterday, 6:37 pm)Storx wrote There's also the big problem that barely no-one lives in Durham City Centre, no-one lives in Sunderland City Centre and no-one lives in Houghton Centre so who's it exactly an express for?

imo it needs to go beyond Sunderland or Durham at either end and extend to another town giving them a link to Sunderland and/or Durham depending which end you pick.

Stuff like the X20 in Northumberland is a good example for that, if it only done Ashington to Newcastle, ignoring the train for now, I'd imagine it would be mostly dead aswell, but it gains it passengers giving people from the likes of Lynemouth etc a fast link to Newcastle. The GNE X21 is arguably another one, for similar reasons but towards Bishop instead. 

The 9 or 24 would be the obvious routes using existing routes since they head North of the water and would give a direct express Durham to Stadium of Light link which is quite poor currently without a long walk really without going back on thereself like the now 14 does.

no body wants to go to the stasium of light though.... as proved by the attendance on tuesday!

what we need back for Sunderland to sort the mess out and I am happy for it to be an hourly secured service is for reinstatement of the 139 140 its an hourly loop

I would adjust it slightly to save time - Say Ryhope Road - Grangetown go via Asda Leechmere then through the estate to Ryhope missing out Ryhope Green

if that would get it to be under an hour it links many estates hospital Dox international

and allow it to run in evening and sunday too

(Today, 6:59 am)Rob44 wrote no body wants to go to the stasium of light though.... as proved by the attendance on tuesday!

I can't say nothing, I didn't even bother watching it on the TV. Knew what was coming, can't stand cup games at home.

Tbf mid-week games are always way quieter. We shall see what it's like today.