(06 May 2020, 11:49 am)James101 wrote I've thought it through a bit more based on these comments, all times based on regular timetables:
There is a drop in direct buses to Boro from 5 bus stops along Norton Road, from 8 buses per hour to 4. That said, all stops on Norton Road are still served at every 6/7 minutes from Norton to Stockton when combined with service 52. I'd argue 4 buses per hour extending to Boro would be sufficient for 5 stops which have no other competitor operator.
I'm not sure it's as black and white as saying the H1 link isn't viable as it was withdrawn. The H1 was a standalone route with a low and uneven frequency. No ticket integration with Stagecoach or Arriva was available and Compass Royston offered no further network connections. This proposal largely runs on established corridors with existing resources. If anything I'd say the biggest barrier to this ever happening is how the current ENCTS system incentivises operators to break up journeys which are used by pass holders (i.e. hospital services) as it generates two journeys for reimbursement rather than one.
The irony being, that having to change buses can be so unattractive, that it puts people off using the bus to get to/from the hospital.