(12 Aug 2017, 7:32 am)Jimmi wrote Just out of curiosity, what was the reasoning for adding extra time into the X9 timetable? Route seemingly hasn't changed, is it just to match up with the X10 departures or is it a case of adding extra running time for reliability as I will admit the routing through Billingham at times can delay it at times, especially if you get stuck at the level crossing, perhaps the few extra minutes in Peterlee will help as well as it does pick up a fair bit of custom through there.
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A bit of both, I'd say, but mainly to improve reliability. Of the two services, the X9 faces more delays and struggles to make up time.
Yes, splitting the services to avoid the use of tachographs has its operational benefits, but any savings made from this will be offset by the cost of adding an extra bus into the cycle.
The additional stop in Low Fell on the X21 service - paired with the additional running time to improve reliability - seems to have worked wonders. There was a negative reaction about when it was first announced but nobody bats an eyelid now: I think it'll be the same story with the new X9/X10, too.