(12 Mar 2021, 2:56 pm)col87 wrote A few ideas to improve the Hartlepool and Teesside networks.
Teesside
The 15 extended to North Tees Hospital and all services extending to Ingleby Berwick via Thornaby.
Some services will be renumbered to 16 and will operate North Tees Hospital - Yarm via Preston Park replacing the service 7. Both will continue to be a regular high frequency service.
17 Will be extended to Stockton via Thornaby replacing the existing 17 and 17A services.
21 Middlesbrough - Yarm - Teesside Airport - Darlington.
This will run in conjunction with the X66 and X67 providing a direct service between Middlesbrough Yarm and Teesside Airport.
X 12 X13
All X12 Journeys will now Terminate at Durham.
New Service X13 will take over some of the X12 route and will operate Middlesbrough - Stockton- Billingham then Direct to Chester Le Street - The Angel of the North - Gateshead and Newcastle.
X4 Will no longer continue to Whitby and instead will terminate at Lofus.
New Service 67 will operate A new Whitby - Redcar service.
Hmm...
I'd suggest 15/15a/15b operating 15 minutes each to combine a 5 minute frequency. This would replace the 7
15 - North Tees, Roseworth, Stockton, Thornaby, Basselton Court
15a - North Tees, Roseworth, Stockon, Thornaby, Ingelby Barwick
15b - North Tees, Roseworth, Stockton, Preston Park, Yarm
17/17a to remain the same as they provide great links for Yarm/Ingelby/Middlesbrough
I don't think the 21 would work, not until Teesside Airport 'Takes off' that is. However when it does I'd suggest
X68 - Darlington Tubwell Row, Darlington Rail Station, Teesside Airport, Stockton, Teesside Park, Middlesbrough. Operating every 30 minutes.
This would replace the need for the 12 to serve Teesside Airport and create a 15 minute frequency for Teesside Park links. Also would allow advertising for the X66 for a quick link from the towns, X67 as the workers connect/express, and X68 for great days out.
The X12 could benefit from Panther LEs but I'm just dreaming. The route itself is okay and to me doesn't need improving.
Cutting the X4 at Loftus is a bit silly to me as well, it's a great back up route back to Middlesbrough from Whitby if the X93 is late or very busy.
The improvements I'd suggest for Cleveland are:
92 - Stokesley to Saltburn via Guisborough and Skelton
X92 - Summer Express service from Middlesbrough to Whitby via Guisborough, Saltburn and Loftus this would run alongside X93 and X94
Maybe an open top bus running shuttles between Redcar & Saltburn at normal fare to entice people to use the bus rather than the train too (weather depending).