(16 May 2022, 9:31 pm)Storx wrote I understand what your doing here but working with the current operators (I believe they're subsidised anyway) I'd go the opposite route.Replacing the 206 with the X6 is a good shout, actually (and provides a useful service to Sunderland, unlike the half-arsed and desperate extension of the 55). I could've sworn the X21/X22 go on the A19 after Wingate - evidently not.
With the black route being an extension of the Arriva X21/X22.
The purple route being an extension of the GNE X6
Then a third town service ran by a Mellor going around all the estates than can't fit anything bigger than a Solo.
(Holme Hill would have to walk to the main road)
Town services never work as no-one wants to go to Peterlee at least with these changes your opening new routes like Blackhall to Seaham and Easington to Sedgefield, Darlington and beyond. Your 89 is already covered by the 24 and the 87 is literally the X21/X22 anyway.
I'll be honest, the main goals of this were:
Increase links to Bracken Hill (88 provides this serving Horden and Easington, with the X88 for good measure)
Increase links to Horden Station (87 provides this to Shotton and Wingate)
Replace the 209/210 (extension of the 206 sees most of that off although that section could easily be a route in its own right, the 89 only really exists to serve the rest, and to Shotton because there was space left in the timetable).
While we're here, then the X7 went to Oakerside, did it terminate where my 89 does or somewhere else along Durham Way?