(05 Apr 2022, 7:59 pm)Malarkey wrote We should follow the model that Oxford has used eliminating all competition among operators on various corridors or where one operator has a more significant presence than the latter, North Tyneside would be better served by either Stagecoach or Arriva than Go North East.

Go North East could sacrifice the 19 & Q3 to Arriva for example in return they for the operation of the 685/X12 as i'm sure Go North East would not want to let go of the 309/310 & 311 even if they'd be better off from a passenger perspective with Stagecoach or Arriva.

The X12 is better with Arriva imo. The main purpose is Durham to Middlesbrough which are both Arriva areas connecting a whole lot of Arriva areas. Whether the Northern section should exist at all is another question but similar things could be said about the Southern section of the X21 aswell if things integrated properly ticketing wise and depots are in better places to serve both routes (Durham / Stockton).

For the Q3 on the Northern section there's questions whether it needs to exist at all now that Sage has closed. Argubly Great Park would be better served by extending both the 46 and X47 instead with more links (once the new road opens).

The Southern section is an ex Stagecoach route that they binned off years ago, they won't want it back.