(28 Feb 2021, 2:50 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Christ, are you feeling alright? Admitting that they are 'part' of the solution must have took some real courage  

GNE are starting to adapt to changing customer demands, with a number of services being adapted to serve retail parks, X21 to Tindale, 21 to Arnison, 10B to Tyne View. While I don't know what they're planning, I do get the feeling that had COVID not buggered things up we would have seen even more changes

I didn't say how small that part was though

To be fair, the X21 to Tindale means that those living in the estate who would get the 18, now can't and other links were also lost https://www.swd.news/shadow-transport-se...strations/ . So I'm not sure that adaptation was the best. 
The others, yes I agree. Those small extentions have the potential to make a big difference to those communities. 
However it still doesn't take away the fact that 99.9% of the network (whoever the operator) is pretty much as it was in the pte days (and probably earlier) across T&W and there's been many an opportunity prior to Covid to actually do something about it.
As drawn out as the last 12 months have been, it hasn't been around forever and I'd hope it isn't the 'excuse' we will see trotted out time after time.

Shields hasn't just been dying in the last 12months. 
The traffic around Team Valley hasn't just been causing issues to the 93/94 for the last 12months.
SE Northumberland has needed more than the network it has, for more than 12 months. 
East Cleveland needed fresh impetus and improved connections prior to Teesflex launching (otherwise it wouldn't have been launched...).
Hartlepool and its stand-alone network has needed work doing to it for longer than 12months.
Anyway, you get the gist.

Frankie & Bennies and Chiquitos dined-out on what worked 20-30 years ago.
Needless to say, they went the way they did, because they didn't adapt to changing customer needs, wants and expectations.
However many times we hear operators bleeting on about traffic lights, bus lanes and traffic jams - there is the potential for those operators to go exactly the same way as the once ubiquitous F&B's did (even after new tables, seats a refresh and re-brand) - because the customers adapting tastes aren't catered for.