(02 Apr 2021, 3:24 pm)6049 wrote I think the point is largely being missed here. I would imagine the B1 is being launched in anticipation that Beamish may do a roaring trade this summer. The 28/28A might be a frequent service but it has a low bridge en route at Pelton which means that it cannot be allocated deckers. Off the top of my head, max capacity on a Versa at the moment will be between 20-25 people. Realistically, that means that 4 or 5 family groups could result in a full bus and leaving passengers who need the service to less well served places. Imagine working in Gateshead and living in Ouston or High Handenhold and you can't get your bus to or from work because it's full of families going to Beamish?

This route will allow a decker to work it if required, therefore potentially doubling capacity and with it being timed to run together with the 28, it should mean that anyone going to Beamish from Newcastle or Gateshead will get on the B1 and leaving local passengers with enough space on their bus.

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And those points would make a lot more sense if the B1 left from Eldon Square. As it is, it leaves 5minutes down the road.

If I've trekked in to the town with the rest of the family in tow, I get off the bus (as a vast number of other people do), at Eldon Square.
The last thing I would want to do, is then drag them down the road to get on another bus, which takes just as long).

Ditto on the return leg. I'm not going to want to drag them all up Clayton St after a long day wandering around Beamish.

I do think the B1 is a good idea in theory. It's just not as well executed as it could be. I'd give it a 5/10. Must try harder.