(15 Jan 2022, 1:42 pm)peter wrote But surely there's less point in running the services at more or less exactly the same times as currently happens with the X84/685? Because for passengers living in the villages on the route they're essentially going from an hourly to a half hourly service. So I fail to understand why you can't see the point in that. With the BSIP and other measures in the future, changes are going to be about reducing competition and increasing provision. Not least you've got to consider that the 684 is funded for by Northumberland County Council - it's a waste of money funding a service at the exactly the same time as a commercial operation.

Between Heddon and Newcastle the 684 & 685 will run roughly 30 minutes apart in both directions which will certainly benefit the passengers on this end of the route at least (currently X84 departs Newcastle 15 minutes before the 685 and runs roughly 15 minutes behind the 685 heading into Newcastle, on top of leaving Hexham at roughly the same time as the 685 whereas when the changes happen the 684 will leave Hexham around 15 minutes after the 685). Whilst the fare thing still restricts the journeys fare paying passengers to one bus, it does at least work for the OAPs using the route (hopefully BSIP fixes that issue in future).

684 is more for those living along the route rather than direct Hexham to Newcastle passengers.