(07 May 2015, 11:48 am)Andreos1 wrote Following the chewing of the fat of Chester services in the annoying thread, I had a look at the timetables of all services arriving/departing Chester AFTER 2000 on a normal weekday evening.
Not sure what can be done (apart from introducing new services) other than tweaking timetables, but here is a list of services arriving/departing.
20:08 - 21 to Durham
20:19 - 34 to Ouston
20:21 - 21 from Newcastle. Terminates (t)
20:25 - 21 to Newcastle
20:29 - 78 to Sunderland
20:37 - 50 from Shields. (t)
20:38 - 21 to Durham
20:40 - 50 to Shields
20:45 - 28 from Grange Villa (t)
20:49 - 78 to Consett
20:50 - 28 to Birtley
20:51 - 21 from Newcastle (t)
20:52 - 34 to Waldridge Park
20:55 - 21 to Newcastle
21:08 - 21 to Durham
21:19 - 34 to Ouston
21:25 - 21 to Newcastle
21:26 - 21 from Newcastle (t)
21:29 - 78 to Sunderland and repeat until close of play.
This isn't GNE bashing at all. Hopefully by pointing out these timings, someone could suggest alternatives or improvements, post 8pm - which to be fair, isn't late at all.
Or, it has identified something that may not have been thought about at GNE towers.
Gambling on a 2/3 minute connection, is risky. Yet, there are a number of examples of that in the timetables listed - for those connecting to a 21, from one of the less regular services. Vice versa, if getting off a 21.
Sometimes, the connection time (for a perfectly reasonable trip), is the total opposite and involves waiting for quite a period.
This isn't something new at all - having been unfortunate to have missed a number of tight connections, prior to the DCC cutbacks.
Also, there is a 36 due in to Chester le Street, gone 2100.
Any idea why this travels light from Chester back to Deptford, rather than carry a load back to Houghton and onwards to Deptford (or Park Lane) from there?
Appreciate hours are tight for drivers, but I think that is a missed opportunity.
Think the evening Service through Chester le Street is proven to be even more dreadful, when the last bus through to Washington is the 50 at 21:40, means that on Friday when I finish work at 10pm I will have to get the 21 to Gateshead then the X1 to The Galleries followed by a 10 Minute walk home, or Alternatively I stop at my Dads in Low Fell unless I can get a lift back to Washington.