(22 Jan 2021, 10:58 pm)L469 YVK wrote IMO, the most natural progression for X-Lines would be if Arriva Northumbria was sold depot by depot and GNE landed Ashington.
Ashington's network has decent foundations in place and could be easily built upon even further.
GNE route re-numberings:
- GNE X30/X31/X32 > X2/X3/X3A
- GNE X15 > X4
- GNE X20 > X90
Incoming route re-numberings
- ANE X21/X22 > X31/X32
* Haven't thought about the 35/57/57A
- Complete re-launch of X14/X15/X16/X18/X20 with new vehicles.
- X31 re-launched and streamlined. Ashington to Newbiggin section cannibalised to hourly though (see below). Parts of 57/57A/X32 replaced with high frequency local links to Ashington, Bedlington and Cramlington as well as beyond. Bedlington turned to a "mini hub" with the X31 and new local services running in a similar way to the Washington network. X31 re-routed via Hartlands for faster & more reliable journeys. New local services would be ideal cascade opportunity for Drifter Streetlites.
- New X19 to Newbiggin and Woodhorn (interworking with X31) combining half hourly with the X20 between Wansbeck Hospital and Newcastle. More "fast" buses via the Spine Road.
- 35 (or it's new service number) improved with more reliable timetables (Woodhorn extension axed in lieu of X19), newer vehicles.
That X31 idea just wouldn't work, there's too high a passenger flow from Newbiggin to various parts of Ashington which aren't serviced by either the 35 or X20. Equally the Nedderton section of the X21 has little to no impact on reliability, if anything the X22 via the Hartlands is more susceptible to reliability issues. The Nedderton section, particularly the part along past the Ridge Farm, Hazelmere and the new estate on the way out of Bedlington, actually picks up a fair few (as well as being more convenient for St. Benet Biscop students who live in Ashington).
Irrespective of that, I think there'd probably be too many competition issues for GNE (or Stagecoach) to even think about taking Ashington. If it's sold it'll likely to be someone like Transdev.