(23 Feb 2023, 3:45 am)L469 YVK wrote Been thinking but if this QA is successful, could it lead to other qualifying agreements such as......QA's can only happen if the operators are interested. The LA cannot force it. As is the case with the previous 685 one and the current one, operators made cost or efficiency savings which made the formation of a QA attractive.
- 684/685 - Hexham - Newcastle
- 1/22 - Churchill Street - Newcastle - maybe both services running every 15 minutes each giving a combined 7/8 minute frequency
- X12/X21 - Durham - Newcastle (maybe X12 re-instated to every 30 mins then via A1M like X21 and re-instating 15 minute express service). Could throw 21 into the mix
Whilst a QA has to pass a number of competition tests to be certified, unless there are tangible benefits to both sides (operator and passenger), then it won't happen, even if it feels obvious.
However, in my opinion, the next most likely is the 6/X21 between Durham and West Auckland.