(07 Mar 2022, 6:07 pm)Andreos1 wrote I'd look at either diverting a 71 that way or sending one of the many Seaham - Sunderland buses on to the A19 between Doxford and Seaton myself.They haven't pushed the route, nor have put the route past 7pm for people who are finishing late, and there is no X10. Or the X10 is too busy at Gateshead which does happen. I still stand by my Seaham idea, and you could use some of the older streetdecks as they don't really have a issue with a 16' plate on it every now and again. Going from seaham to newcastle, no only because it is much faster than the 56, but also it is a eXpress.
Even if it was just peaks.
Changing in the Ryhope area or going all the way to Park Lane and then back out, isn't very attractive for many passengers.
Maybe looking at doing something different, rather than the same old.
Sorry, missed this.
I've really wondered why they haven't pushed this route more.
On one hand they're saying the leisure market is the one they're aiming for (commuters aren't coming back apparently) and at the same time, they're not offering a route to and from this 'leisure' destination (which offers food, cinema and shopping) for the majority of the potential visitors living in the area.
There's cinemas, pubs, shops and restaurants crying out for customers and you've got a bus operator who could feed them with customers. Taking them away again at the end of the night.
Yet there's nothing.
No promotions. No partnerships. Nowt.
Everytime I got on it, people were asking what is this service, even Washington drivers if you were going to Newcastle would say 'wait for the X10 it is much faster' even though you would have to have waited like 30 mins for it.