(29 Dec 2021, 3:20 pm)Dan wrote In a similar vein to the 21/49, I would like to think that a future development opportunity could be to run a bus every 10 mins combined between the 6 and X21 (each every 20). This would offer a much more attractive customer proposition than a 6 every 12(?) mins and X21 every 30.

Based on your anedoctal experiences, it's likely fare-paying passengers are choosing to use the X21 because it's cheaper, and ENCTS users are using the 6 because it's the first bus that turns up and the one they're more accustomed to using.

Go North East ran services 308 and X10 to Blyth on Boxing Day, and I have heard a number of comments about how passengers tried to buy the £4 North Tyne day ticket (valid on GNE's 309) and were taken aback when they were told it costs £8.50 on Arriva's service.

The frequency of the 6 to the X21 used to make it a winner, much of the time, at 5:2 but now it's 3:2, the 6 is less tempting, particularly for me, now that the frequency of the 64 that connects me with the 6 has been halved. These days, if I need to make a trip to Spenny, I just give Husband a ring to pick me up if I've recently missed the X21 home.