(25 Feb 2022, 9:57 pm)Ambassador wrote Not sure if it falls under Washington but the cost for the 23 is obscene and surely a contender

You could easily divert the 28 along Ravensworth Rd and then Windsor Rd to join Windsor Road (as the 721 used to back in the day) to cover that section, stick a taxi bus around springwell village and let little pinks take up the barley mow end.

An idea I've just had is drop it to hourly and extend it to Concord via Usworth then interwork with the 37 to/from Doxford Park. Probs have to drop Sainsbury's and not serve Wrekenton High Street a bit like the 25 to save time but it might just be about achievable and a Strata* is probs big enough for both services.

73 would be withdrawn as the 8 now covers most of the route.

This would require 3 buses down from the current 5 (2 × 23 & 3 × 37/73)

* I think some of these contracts should be looked at more of the usage as some seem to have a high number for minimum capacity, when have you seen 30 odd people on the 33/33A in Newcastle for example?!