(18 May 2022, 5:42 pm)DeltaMan wrote I do agree that they may have inadvertently sucked the life of out services to Kibblesworth because people that could use the 29 are on the 21 instead for local trips. They may argue the cost the of a bus to essentially cover Low Fell to Kibblesworth isn't justified by the passengers that use it. But only they know the numbers.
I think the crux of the issue is that outside of Gateshead Borough, Washington and North West Durham, GNE are not the main operator in any of the major built up areas they serve.
They are traditionally the "out of town" operator, as in the NBC days and passengers numbers were falling in those days too.
To that degree, comparing NCT with GNE is not fair. I think you could compare NCT with Stagecoach Newcastle as the networks have similar characteristics. But GNE would be better compared with Trent Barton, the "out of town'" operator for Nottingham.
Aye that's a fair point about the two networks. It's quite hard to compare GNE really as it's quite unique where it's both in parts.
Your probably right though, we will never know though. I just hope we don't end up with the stage where the tax payer is paying for a 29 to duplicate the 21, a 28 to duplicate the 56/57 and 25 to duplicate the 21 in parts ran by GCT running with fresh air. Much rather see it extensions and working out practical solutions like in fairness they did in North Tyneside in parts and the 62 extension to Throckley.
(18 May 2022, 5:22 pm)Boggle wrote That’s not a million miles away from the old situation along Durham Road. The 24 to Allerdene, 25 to Wrekenton, 26 to Birtley, 27 to Heworth and 28 to Kibblesworth. There were also longer distance limited stop runs to Chester, Durham, Stanley, Darlington, Houghton and Hartlepool provided by the 231, 709, 722, 723, 728 and 735. Not to mention the aforementioned 183 and the 638/639 to Metrocentre, Washington, Sunderland and west of Gateshead. Still a high frequency service but with much greater choice of destination. Of course, some of these routes were shared with United/Arriva and there were also alternative/competing services from Classic, OK and Low Fell Coaches, all long since crushed by GNE.
I agree that there are many corridors similar where connections have been eroded, but it wouldn’t take a great deal to reestablish some of them and offer greater choice.
It’s a shame there’s no likelihood of Stagecoach, Arriva or an independent striking up a bit of competition. Nothing like a good bus war to improve frequency of service and drive down prices.
Sounds much better, just curious on the history as I don't know it that well it happened when I was a little kid pretty much what the rationale from the bus companies of dropping everything for just the 21 overtime after the price wars along there.