(11 Jul 2020, 7:41 pm)tyresmoke wrote I'd worry about the service not being able to be accommodated in Eldon Square and having to wait out on the street somewhere. Fine in the summer but when it comes to winter evenings, knowing how many people are at the stand 15-20 mins before departure at Eldon Square now (I know I've done it myself!) I wonder how many of these would be put off by not being in a nice warm(ish) bus station? Admittedly Haymarket isn't any good and that doesn't seem a put off to commuters there, albeit it's under cover while not being indoors.
I think this is it - while Haymarket is open ended, it's still under cover so folk aren't getting drenched. There's also indoor access from all of Eldon Square via M&S - so for many people working/shopping in there, they can stay dry all the way to their bus.
I don't imagine 40+ people queuing on John Dobson/Market/Pilgrim Street will be as nice in the pouring November rain.
Equally - for first time users - if the X9/X10 leaves a 10-15 minute walk away from Eldon Square, and for sake of argument you then miss one by minutes, then the overall journey time between that and the X12 becomes far closer. Couple that with that if you're standing waiting for the X9/X10 you could be getting wet/cold, whereas you're in the dry on the X12. Obviously would likely only happen the once, but that could put folk off in the future and onto the train (or for those in Eldon Square, make them swallow the added journey time on the X12 and use that with its day ticket for £3.50 cheaper).