(14 Jun 2022, 10:05 pm)Storx wrote Yeah totally agreed to be honest, then again we can't complain too much really we're not too much different to the likes of Ouston, Portobello, Dipton etc and I'd take what we've got over any of them. The X7 isn't too bad really it's just a shame North Tyneside and Newcastle CC like doing awful road schemes in the South Gosforth / Killingworth area which delay it constantly especially the Sandy Lane 'upgrade' which has made Gosforth Park worse than ever.
Mind it's a shame they could get a station to work at Seghill to be honest, guessing it was too much to double up more track to make it work though. There's definitely the demand imo.
I would have imagined we would have got the same patterns of service as we do now, though possibly with better ticket options. It sill annoys me we don't benefit from the Cramlington Routesaver.
The main reason why Seghill won't get a station (hopefully it will someday) is that it will add too much time on to the journey to/from Ashington, based on the class 156 performance characteristics. I have seen the plans for a new Seghill station, it would be a very substantial affair, basically being built on stilts on the embankment south of the level crossing and would have had a large car park on the field opposite Deneside. NCC (well specifically Stuart McNaughton) know that Seaton Delaval is too far away for foot passengers and car owners in Seghill would likely prefer Northumberland Park so they don't backtrack. A simple halt at Seghill would like suffice now (and be cheaper).
Anyhow, to keep it on topic, there is no love lost between me and Arriva (and one or two of Blyth's "finest" drivers to boot), IMHO GNE's headlining of the whole affair has been shambolic.