(22 Sep 2021, 7:11 am)col87 wrote Am just wondering what the reason is for so many buses between Newcastle and Chester Le Street.  The 21 every 7 minutes then the X21 every 30 then add in the 25 and 28/28A and with Arriva X12 they must be a bus ever 4/5 minutes at the very least.  If they struggling for drivers would it not make sense to put 21 permanently to every 15 minutes between Newcastle and Chester Le Street and every 30 to Durham and then time the X21 to so it still provides a service every 15 minutes between Newcastle and Durham. Could still perhaps do 10 minutes at busier times such as mornings and rush hour but I really don’t see the point for the majority of the day because they would help with shortages surely.

In simple terms demand. There's actually way less buses then there used to be along the corridor in the late 90s, early 00s.

From what I recall the peak loadings are the first part of the Durham Rd corridor itself so Newcastle-Birtley/Barley Mow as opposed to running through to Chester which the 28/28A and for part route, the 25, don't serve. The X12 is now hourly too.

If one 21 is missing you immediately notice the effects at bus stops (particualrly Gateshead Interchange and places like the Cannon and Birtley Station lane)