(19 Sep 2013, 6:34 pm)Andreos1 wrote Not sure about others, but the only points I have made relating to those services (as far as I can remember) re the above services are as follows:
* x3 - GNE have never been able to make a bus work along the Newcastle Road corridor between Newcastle and Sunderland. I am not sure what was going to be different with this attempt. Lo and behold, after a short while the modern vehicles are shifted off, the branding is dropped and after a brief respite, the service is reduced.
* x7 - I am still convinced this should have called at Dalton Park and missed out Seaham.
There are any amount of buses between Sunderland and Seaham. Dalton Park has excellent bus connections - if you live in Seaham.
Sending it via Doxford Park and Dalton Park prior to picking up the current route around Peterlee would have made some excellent links even better.
* x84/85 - Surely sending one of these via the Metrocentre would have worked? Another missed opportunity I feel.
Obviously the team who came up with the ideas for these services felt they would work in their current format.
As a member of this forum, all I (and others) can do is voice our opinions.
As for the Durham Uni and Arriva comment - I certainly didn't see anything specifying it was a dig at Arriva.
I commented on the fact they were going to a building which was well away from the GNE network.
I am not too sure it is being cynical either.
It is funny that express routes between Sunderland and Newcastle just don't seem to get the numbers that they should. Lots of people make the journey and whilst the Metro has the frequency, it isn't exactly quick from city to city, so in theory you'd think a fast bus should do well, but.....
Lots of ifs and ands for the X7 route, but Doxford Park is a peak only kind of place & Dalton Park is an off peak kind of place.
For me, X84 or X85 via Metrocentre would be crackers - the old 684 via the Metrocentre didn't work & you've already got the 10 from Hexham to Metrocentre.
Everyone's got an opinion though