(10 Aug 2021, 10:08 pm)Drifter60 wrote I must agree, the connections needed maintaining, not just buses from Houghton to Chester and Seaham but also areas such as Seaton, Northlea and Dene House Road in Seaham who would be left without a service.Tbh when the 238 was a thing I thought that was relatively busy, tbh I do think from Seaton - Chester-le-street is relatively busy, normally around 5-8 people on which isn't bad. However something needs you to want/have to get the 71, whether that is quick links to Newcastle from Seaham, or Bishop Auckland, Arnison Centre.
And I think it was realistically unfeasible to not have a bus between Chester and Houghton, you’d be left either changing buses somewhere in Bournmoor between the 4 and a 78, hardly ideal. And again Houghton to Seaham would require a change in Hetton, which adds considerable time on the journey, however at least that would be a interchange point though!
Go North East probably knew the council would want to ensure these connections continued. And it’s a shame that they haven’t promoted the route a bit first before deciding it’s unprofitable, new connections across Houghton and direct links between Seaham and Chester just haven’t been marketed at all. Maybe time to push some of the less high profile routes a bit rather than just “XLINES” or the Angel. Nothing against those services but nice new XLINES buses don’t help the people of Seaham, Seaton and Great Lumley who were facing loosing vital links.
RE: September Service Changes