(25 Apr 2021, 9:32 am)L469 YVK wrote https://www.facebook.com/124685800957368...sn=scwspmo
Look at one of the comments! Clearly demand for a faster Newbiggin to Newcastle bus.
1hr 12 mins MAX (X19) vs 1hr 29 mins (X21) - AM to NCL
1hr 7 mins (X19) vs 1 hr 19 mins (X21) - PM from NCL
Arriva could easily compete & co-exist well with the trains if they put some effort into marketing & doing things properly.
And in response to various previous comments about GNE "salami slicing" their routes, Arriva have cut the PVR of the X21/X22/35 by 8x vehicles with no tangible benefits to the customer. The X19/X21/X22 & 35 would reduce the PVR by 3x (with other service changes reducing the overall PVR further) but actually offer improvements by maintaining a 20 minute service on the 35 AND doubling the number of "fast" Ashington to Newcastle services.
Has it actually been confirmed that the X21/X22 changes are permanent. They're still marked down as temporary timetables atm. I wouldn't be too surprised to see them restored in the future once school extras are scrapped tbf as they were always quite busy. Right now though there just simply isn't anything to actually run the buses as bigger buses are being used on school extras especially at Blyth and Durham.