(16 Jun 2019, 1:52 pm)Malarkey wrote
Do you have better suggestions than what I have come
up with, just to note I only the "suggested route 37" would be operated
by a minibus with other services remaining double decker operated and
from my suggestions have I abandoned the people of Heaton/High Heaton,
no I haven't, might want to re-read my post first!
Furthermore
I appreciate that the extension to the cobalt was to offer a direct
link from Heaton/High Heaton however it doesn't matter what time of day I
see the 1 on the Cobalt it runs around empty, last night when I got on
it I was the only one it between the Cobalt and Heaton as it didn't pick
up a single passenger.
Also given the 1 also goes via
Holystone/Benton Asda along the main roads of newly built estates is it
going to pick anyone up when all those areas much like Heaton have a
high amount of cars users with people living in those areas who are
clearly have quite a lot of money. Are those people really going stop
taking the car to work in order to get on the bus, I don't think they
are if I am totally honest.
As a result of the above is
the extension to the Cobalt really financially sustainable for
Stagecoach to run throughout the day going forward as I do think it
maybe better to have a few journey's extended during peak times only.
Just browse the forums usually but your 37 idea really wouldn't work well. The problem is usually with the buses meeting in the street on Whitfield Terrace so if you ran more down there it would make it worse, minibus, single or double decker as they struggle to get by especially on the corner at the end.
I used to live down there and the better way to sort it would be probably to actually reduce the buses to every 10 minutes but give them more running time so it actually runs every 10 minutes instead of 3 following each other with 1 full and 2 following it behind empty not being able to get past because of the narrow streets with the first one getting later by picking everyone up.
Use the 1 between Coach Lane and Northumbria Uni during term time and you'll understand why the deckers are there - it's always dead during the holidays. Can't comment on the cobalt extension but it always seemed a weird one.
The 62 and 63 are just as bad along Chillingham Road half the time for stacking.