(12 Jun 2015, 7:47 pm)Dan wrote To stick my two penneth in - I've often been the only person travelling from Hexham to Newcastle on afternoons and evenings, when using the 685. On all other occasions, it hasn't reached double figures.The 85/685 is one of those weird services for passenger numbers, seen it carrying a decent amount of passengers at times then other times it has been carrying less passengers. Based on loadings from Newcastle.
Can only imagine this is going to get worse in the future, should Go North East increase the level of work in the Hexham area...
The Carlisle end of the route does very well, however. Had the misfortune of needing to stand on a number of occasions for the first 20-30 minutes of the route..! The more regular frequency at this end of the route (provided by Stagecoach) only provides evidence of this...
Could the 85 be one of those services like many in Newcastle where you have more passengers heading into Newcastle on a morning and then carry more heading out of Newcastle on an evening.
I've only done the 85/685 once and it had a fair few passengers across the route although the Brampton to Carlisle stretch carried the most passengers when I rode it.