(29 Dec 2019, 12:20 pm)busmanT wrote Obviously it will pick up more going via Woodhouse Close (copying Arriva) than Watling Road, but probably 3 or 4 minutes quicker on Watling Road (delay turning right at Cabin Gate, getting out of Proudfoot Drive and especially towards Bishop, with going round Walker Drive) - potential to get a bigger share of the passengers from West and St Helens going to Bishop (at higher fares) with what would be a faster journey, perceptually much faster, and not involve seeing the sights of Woodhouse Close.

The worst part about going round Woodhouse isn't the sights, it's getting absolutely battered every time a driver clips a kerb, which is basically every few minutes because the StreetDecks are far too big for the route.

I personally don't think that 3-4 minute saving would be worth it, because that time would just be spent sitting in Bishop anyway. Plus with the traffic it's often faster to go via Woodhouse on the northbound journey because there's less traffic coming from the west lights compared to the south. When it gets busy the traffic at the lights can go back to the Aclet, which coupled with all the double parking along Cockton Hill Road means the traffic goes down very slowly. 

(29 Dec 2019, 12:24 pm)S830OFT wrote I wonder if it would be viable to extend one or two journeys to Barnard Castle...

I doubt it, although that extension would have been nice under the Castles Express branding!