(13 Jan 2020, 12:23 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote GNE actually goes to Cramlington? I only know of the GNE 42 going there. 8 hours on a bus? Wow. I think 72 minutes is the longest I have spent continuously sitting on a bus. In a day, probably that day, a few hours.
You looked for a house on a GNE route, then decided you hated GNE, moved to Arriva territory and now use GNE because they are superior to Arriva? Seriously, are you mad? I would love to live in proper GNE territory, and would look to do so, as ridiculous as that is, living somewhere for a bus! But I love GNE enough to do it, and don't think I will ever not like GNE. Why don't you drive instead of using Arriva/using GNE and going the long way round? Completely agree with not buying a ticket for Arriva buses, I will never do that. Even on a Day Rover I wouldn't use Arriva!
It was the 42 that I got there! I regularly spend the full 2 hours that it takes for the X21 to get to Newcastle from Tindale, so 72 minutes for me is a quick journey! I know on several occasions I've spent 6 hours, mostly because I get to Newcastle, realise I've forgot something then have to come back down, then go back up!
To preface this, yes I am mad!
I used to live in Gateshead so was very much in GNE territory. We moved to Crook, which while having the GNE 'depot' only had two services a day in each direction and I didn't really have much choice in the matter. I decided that I hated living there so moved back to Gateshead to live with my grandparents. Then I decided that I preferred County Durham to T&W so I moved to Bishop because of the X21 (and 18). If there's one thing I like more than having a GNE service, it's moving house!
It doesn't make financial sense for me to drive, I currently pay £95 a month for my All Zone pass, that would barely cover the cost of the insurance, never mind the cost of a car, fuel, tax etc. Especially when I regularly travel between Bishop and Newcastle
I do occasionally travel Arriva, only when I have to. For example, because the X21 only extends to Tindale until 5pm, in an evening I'll pay the £1.40 to Arriva just so I don't have to walk the 2 miles (if there's one thing I hate more than Arriva, it's exercise!), same with Sundays, I'll pay the £1.40 for the 6, then get straight on an X21 to Durham