(24 Nov 2015, 7:38 pm)G-CPTN wrote If a route diversion due to road closure because of roadworks is such that passengers need to walk to stops not usually served by the route (and there is no chance of seeing the bus coming so that passengers can move to the alternative stops) should the diversion be applied only during the road closure - or during the scheduled closure?
Corbridge Newcastle Road is being resurfaced and closure is scheduled between 07:30 and 16:00, however, today, the planned construction work was completed early and the road closure was suspended before 15:00.
X84/X85 resumed the normal route - leaving some passengers standing at the wrong (alternative) stops.
I believe that I was able to warn the waiting passengers in time for them to walk to the original stops in time to catch their intended bus, but without my warning they would have stood 'no chance' . . .
I realise that this is debatable, and operators might prefer to return to the normal route as soon as possible.
Arriva certainly don't return to usual route after a scheduled road closure until end of service. It causes enough inconvenience to passengers to walk to the alternative stop. Drivers are advised to follow the diversion at all times, even if the road is open. This happened with the 35 a few weeks back, High Market in Ashington was closed and buses were diverting via Morpeth Road. The roadworks had been delayed so the road was still open.