(28 Dec 2021, 8:27 pm)Wybus wrote I’m sure pre Covid I remember long queues at peak times for the X84/X85 in Eldon Square, and didn’t GNE used to run an additional peak hour trip (used to be something that did a Team Valley then a short 12 then an X85 as I recall), it’s strange how it’s gone from this to such a big reduction
When all the workers return to their offices when we are back to normal they are going to no doubt have to find an alternative way to travel home, unless they can all fit on an hourly Versa.
I suppose the argument might be who knows when/if we might return to normal. We're not out of the woods with this pandemic yet and the introduction of 'work from home' is gonna change working practices indefinitely - some may never return to the office or at least may only return part-time. In which case, does it not makes sense for GNE to stop running the commuter X85 if it's running at a loss. In the future, should passenger numbers on Newcastle-Hexham services pick up again, then I'm sure GNE might look at the reintroduction of a Hexham express. When the service was introduced back in 2013 it clearly attracted passengers from other services and/or the train, building from the baseline 684 - what's to say that won't happen again in the future when we're living in less 'uncertain times' as they say.
And as has already been mentioned, in that same time frame the train has seen an improvement in both fleet and frequency, which is another factor to bear in mind!