(23 May 2022, 10:34 pm)Drifter60 wrote Without getting too much into hypotheticals, I had wondered if the new 50 route - which I’m assuming will now take longer due to the diversions around Washington - meant that it would go standalone. I spoke previously about how it seems like the 50 could do with a full decker allocation whereas it wasn’t needed for the 26.Ah its OK though. Cos they can get a day ticket and change buses.
I don’t know if anyone from the South Tyneside area can shed more light, but the 5 and 26 changes just seemed to me like perhaps a change to accommodate interworking patterns or maybe balance timings? So could be right about the new 24.
Makes you wonder if it’s incompetence or just the case of killing off certain services to push through the ideas they ‘think’ will work. It’s been discussed on here about the sheer intent GNE had to extend the 20 to South Shields over the 35. Pushed back in consultations but then went ahead anyways.
Do the people of South Hetton want connections to Washington and Newcastle? Or would they rather have buses to Doxford International, Sunderland College and Park Lane Interchange? Whilst I’m sure a bus to Newcastle is welcomed, but at the expense of buses to Sunderland? Sunderland is closer than Newcastle and I’d argue there’s more people working/studying in Sunderland over Newcastle.
I mean, it can add time to the journey there and back and will probably cost more and will maybe even see fewer people using the bus... But if that's they way they want it to be. They know best.
Meanwhile, Pelton Fell goes from 3 buses an hour in each direction to zero.
Pelaw Bank goes from 6 buses an hour in each direction to 7.
Various parts of Birtley lose out completely.
Parts of Gateshead lose direct services to key locations such as the QE - but they can head off in the wrong direction and change buses if they still want to use public transport.