(15 Apr 2022, 11:13 am)Andreos1 wrote There was a train franchise who used to work on the ECML who wanted to do that.
Lots of talk, lots of research. No end product unfortunately. 

I think there's potential in the idea. After all it's about looking at the bigger picture and the complete door to door journey (including the website, app and booking engine) - not just the short period of time your on board using a certain brand or product. 

The middle bit may be good. But if the bit before or at the end of the trip isn't pleasant, attractive or a positive experience...

Ah I can't remember seeing that one, I know VTEC or one of it's incarnations had a chauffeur service for a bit to the train station. Totally agreed though, it's where I think DRT would work if it's pushing people on let's say a better transport than a bus. Most the DRT's I've seen just take people to certain town or doing bus to bus connections and only the really dedicated will do that as buses are slower than a car pretty much always so aren't attractive. Be interesting if it could work around Metro stations, Northumberland Park or West Monkseaton are the most obvious ones as the local estates like Briardene / Red House, most of Monkseaton pretty much and the new estates in Backworth have an absolutely abysmal bus service currently. It's no surprise car usage in those areas is through the roof aswell.

(15 Apr 2022, 4:14 pm)V514DFT wrote Didnt Arriva run a 144 to connect Thropton with Morpeth,later numbered to 14 to connect with the X14?

I believe it was just the same service but different numbers for some reason which they just ditched and renumbered the whole thing X14. Similar to the X1/X2 from Newcastle -> Durham -> Middlesbrough.