(10 Jul 2022, 6:55 pm)Storx wrote Well if you get the trains at rush hour there's a lot of people who get on off at Durham from Newcastle least 2 carriage loads.
The pricing off peak isn't too different £11.50 / £12.45 via train with plusbus vs bus £10.90 an explorer ticket. You have to remember most people don't live near GNE routes at either end of the route so you need multiple tickets not to mention the timing difference / reliability difference.
The fact it's down to 2 buses an hour fast and 2 via everywhere probably says there's not much demand and the slow one seems to be going to more places to try and attract more passengers (you wouldn't do that if it was busy already).
A plusbus ticket wouldn't be valid though, would it?
I thought you couldn't get them if you're travelling within the region. I know they're different cities, in different counties, but they're pretty close together.
Actually, looking it up they are separate areas so it would work, but it seems you would have to buy two separate tickets, one for Durham and one for Newcastle
Also, having had the misfortune many, many times of having to travel between Newcastle and Durham at peak times, I'd say there is definitely a need for more buses. It's not uncommon for 2-3 X21s, and the 21s inbetween to be absolutely packed by the time they get to Gateshead.