(24 Jan 2021, 9:35 pm)Andreos1 wrote There's no doubt some people will choose the train over the bus.
However, I'd hazard a guess that many others will stick with the bus. You just have to look at Cramlington as an example of that. 

I think there's more to it than just journey times and it being a straight choice based on a 15min journey vs a 60min journey. Ultimate end destination and proximity to the station vs bus stop are two factors which come straight to mind. Then there's cost.
Just a couple of factors off the top of my head.

Well if it's using the Metro Zones which has been rumoured then the train will be cheaper at £5.30 vs £6.40 for the bus.

I know you mentioned Cramlington but the service there is a token service at best really being hourly and not running in the evenings and they've got an express service every 10 minutes which is literally non stop bar the Regent Centre and Gosforth. Around here I could imagine there being a large shift for commuters as the X7 is so unreliable with whatever mad scheme North Tyneside are upto lately around Gosforth or Sandy Lane and it's been known to take an hour to do a 9 mile journey (the same problems you'd hit in a car).

It's the same story with up Bebside who have the equally unreliable X8 for the same reasons and I could imagine there being a large shift up there with passengers potentially changing from bus to train if the fares are right (or just driving to the station and using the P&R).

Sadly it's one of the few areas where you can't even blame Arriva as they've tried their hardest to make them reliable but North Tyneside and Newcastle CC just set them up to fail. It's definitely interesting though to see how well it will do and whether we'll see a reduction in cars aswell with all the large car parks planned.