(15 Nov 2015, 8:04 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Like the 1 and 2 idea but:
- The X10/X11 route that I mentioned would also incorporate the 43 route between Cramlington and Newcastle. They'd make an absolute fortune.
- Like the 1/2 idea but would it be viable to run a boxing day service on 2x locals?
- Although the X21 / X22 may well justify a Sunday service on Boxing Day, the section of the X21 between Ashington and Bedlington and the section of the X22 between Bedlington and Newcastle have always been the stronger of the 2 sections of both routes rather than Guide Post.
- The 35 would run a Sunday service with different timings interworking with the X21 and X14.
However, I must say that although a full service between Newcastle and Alnwick on the X18 may not be viable, would something like this work in conjunction with the X14 service that I suggested earlier? The PVR requirement would be an extra 2x vehicles but it could work. Would provide approximately 2x buses per hour between Morpeth and Newcastle and a bus every 2 hours between Amble and Morpeth:
X14 X18 X14 X18 X14 X18 X14 X18 X14 X18
Amble 00:32 02:32 04:32
Morpeth 00:53 01:13 01:53 02:33 02:53 03:13 03:53 04:33 04:53 05:13
Newcastle 01:26 01:46 02:26 03:06 03:26 03:46 04:26 05:06 05:26 05:46
Newcastle 01:33 01:53 02:33 03:13 03:33 03:53 04:33 05:13 05:33 05:53
Morpeth 02:06 02:26 03:06 03:46 04:06 04:26 05:06 05:46 06:06 06:26
Amble 04:27 06:27
P.S Would run standalone and not interwork with any other services. Also, the X18 would not serve Acklington Prison too due to the timings required to operate the 2 hourly service to Amble and a regular service to Morpeth in conjunction with the X14. Also, layover in Morpeth would be reduced from 4 minutes to 2 minutes.
Got to remember that whilst a normal Sunday service on Boxing Day would be great, costs also have to be kept to an absolute minimum and opening 2x depots would further increase this. If all bar the X18 were interworked, it would make sense to just open Blyth Depot and sending an ancillary vehicle to Morpeth for the X18 driver changeovers. And although Blyth may not have the driver numbers to operate on it's own, the opportunity could be there for Ashington and perhaps Jesmond drivers who want some extra £££
My 1&2 suggestions were so that people in different parts of SE Northumberland could get around to visit family etc. Also, those who may live on a 1 or 2 route may not live on one of the Newcastle routes, it would provide a link.
If you didn't run both the X21 and X22, then I think running the 1 & 2 would be a necessity. I believe, however, that on this Boxing Day in particular, the X21/22 would make a shed load, I've been on X21's on a match day and they get pretty cramped, so couple that with Boxing Day sales...
I think Ashington, Blyth and Jesmond drivers would have to be used, they know their own routes inside out, where they can make up time, which, I imagine, is a pretty important thing on the suggested timetables.