(27 Jul 2022, 9:30 pm)DeltaMan wrote Genuine question. Is there anything happening in Washington after 19:00 to justify a better service?
Well there are a lot of factories in the area and a lot of people have to late work shifts as one example. Plus there are some people who travel to and from the likes of Newcastle and Sunderland and they need their connecting bus home. Some shops, restaurants and leisure facilties are open late too.
(27 Jul 2022, 9:58 pm)Andreos1 wrote Apart from people working in the various facilities that operate 24 hours a day, visiting family, hospital visits in Gateshead and Sunderland, having social lives locally and further afield etc?
Nah, nowt.
It's a place that doesn't need or deserve a better service and as a result, those people who could use a bus after 7pm will be encouraged to use alternative means of transport during the day.
But seriously, if it takes someone 5mins during the day to get from Ayton to one of the Asda RDC's in the car or a couple of buses, a change at the Galleries and the best part of 45mins - there's only going to be one winner. It goes without saying, it's going to be less attractive on nights. Even before the last lot of Nexus bail outs.
Ditto someone going from Blackfell to Nissan. A few mins in the car along the A1231 or two buses and a change at Concord or The Galleries. Looking at journey of potentially an hour plus depending on connections using public transport.
Donwell to BAE Systems via bus? Nah. Not even worth it.
Sulgrave to Rolls Royce? Someone might have completed it.
I've not even bothered working out how difficult it would be to get to other key employment sites beyond the Washington boundary, in places like Drum Industrial Estate or Team Valley.
I just know its pretty much impossible to see the value in ditching the car and making the switch to bus.
Another network of routes that doesn't work for anyone other than the operator.
Completely agree. Well said