(24 Oct 2021, 7:16 pm)Storx wrote The X6 got cancelled because it was constantly dead and people are working from home now, there's no need for the service.

Also the bus is every 20 minutes on a Saturday because there's a driver shortage and driver's are less likely to do overtime on a weekend hence the absolutely horrendous cancellations in Consett and Washington yesterday. The 306/308 are the least of the problems in Arriva Northumbria for loadings; there's the 52, 54, X9 and X14 to take that record, unless it's making a loss then there won't be changes. It makes no sense to put a bus upto 15 minutes to 'test loadings'. You'd put the bus upto every 20 minutes and if the demand is high then go upto every 15 minutes like Stagecoach has been slowly doing. Doing it the other way is illogical especially when you have a shortage of drivers.

Also the people of Marden don't want the 51A extended with a bus around the North East going to Newcastle via absolutely nowhere, I'm sure ian foster if he reads this can vouch for that. It's about a link to Tynemouth Morrisons from Tynemouth and Marden estate more than anything as they lost the link when the X8 (might have been X9) was withdrawn. It's nothing to do with Newcastle, most people from around there walk to Cullercoats Metro or Foxhunters so there's no benefit of running quicker buses (sadly).

Given the uncertainties around passenger loadings, it would make sense for routes like the 306 & 308 to revert back to a full 15 minute frequency Mondays to Fridays. If numbers return to pre-covid levels, then great. If not, reduce both to every 20 minutes each. 

Well the 44/X8/X9 never served Tynemouth although the ill-fated original X6 did serve Preston Road & North Shields. It has only been since 2013 that the link was created. Plus not many people use the full link from Marden to Newcastle hence the rationale behind a withdrawal of the 306 and an extension of the 51A to replace the 359 thus keeping the Morrisons link. That alone would actually put Arriva in a stronger position due to funding received from Nexus. plus offering the same capacity on the Coast Road (give or take) whilst reducing operating costs.