(21 Dec 2021, 1:14 am)Keeiajs wrote Really you could send the X9 via Durham

Why? You've got the X21 and 21 running down there which are frequent. X21 is pretty much the quickest you're going to get so if you ran the X9 the same way you're just increasing the frequency with no guarantees of enough passengers to make both services cost effective. Then to run the X9 onto Peterlee, you'd probably have to send it along the A181 to Wingate and then back up the A19 to Peterlee to head back down to Boro. The alternative is sending it along B roads through villages already served by either Arriva (who probably won't take the competition too kindly) or GNE.

I like the idea of sending the X9 via Sunderland down to Boro, but again, the demand has never really seemed to be there. Anyone going from Sunderland to Newcastle (centre to centre) will almost always choose the Metro. You'd probably pick up a few in the Boldons, but the 9 serves the same route towards Sunderland and the X34 is never more than a 5/10m walk away to get to Newcastle. The demand may be better from Sunderland down, but I never noticed the Sunderland to Peterlee express loads so wouldn't like to comment.

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