(08 Mar 2022, 10:11 am)Andreos1 wrote I think the idea of diverting the X10 via Seaham has some potential for some passengers, but for others - it's making the journey even longer. Merging the X9 in to the X10 has added even more time to the timetable which was already extended to include Dalton Park.
To add another 15/20 mins isn't going to appeal to someone travelling to/from Stockton or Middlesbrough.
The journey is slow enough as it is.
Marketed correctly, they could push punters from Seaham on to the X10 via Dalton Park. There's more than enough buses between there and Seaham, so connections shouldn't be too difficult or troublesome.
I think there's a fine balance between making something attractive for potential new passengers at the expense of making it less attractive for existing passengers.
The urge for cuts, consolidation and saving money by merging the X9 and 10 could already be having a negative effect on those existing passengers. It would take a brave person to annoy, frustrate or slow down their journeys even more.
Going via Seaham is problematic at the best of times IMO, as on a good day you're stuck in traffic - congestion-busting buses or not. There's also the issue that the X10 is far too long as it is, and given that customers have to pay a premium to use it, I really don't know how much they could keep extending it before people decide to save themselves some time and get the train instead.
Better advertising connections, such as Seaham to Dalton Park for onwards connections, is the better idea. Whilst I think that the marketing of services has improved, I think on the most part it has been on an individual basis and rarely takes advantage of ongoing links. An example I gave a while ago now was the X1 to Dalton Park, and why the 65 isn't advertised as a frequent through-connection instead of waiting for an hourly service.