(23 Feb 2023, 10:07 am)Storx wrote Personally can't see the 6/X21, the 6 is a much stronger route than the X21 between the two points so Arriva won't gain anything similar with the X12/X21 or 21.
It's some of the urban corridors especially in Sunderland that need it more.
Chester Road (2/8/16/35/39/78)
City Centre -> Seaham Grange / Dalton (22/23/60/61)
City Centre -> Pennywell (20/39)
Great North Road (Q3/43/44/45)
By far the worst corridors in the North East.
Similar with
Yellow Line Metro / 1
Yellow Line Metro / 26 / 27
They compliment each other but decent ticketing does not exist.
I’m inclined to agree with RobinHood. The 6/X21 between Durham and West Auckland is most definitely a likely candidate for an Enhanced Partnership. I don’t think the 6 is as strong as you assume it is.
There are clear benefits to passengers of mutual ticket acceptance (better evening/Sunday provision, co-ordinated timetable during daytime) which would mean Durham County Council are likely to provide their support for this.
The 20 and 39 in Sunderland are two entirely different routes, serving different purposes (Hylton Road vs Chester Road) so I don’t think there would be any scope for rationalisation here. The Great North Road services are similar (which would you reduce, as it wouldn’t be the Q3?)
I agree there is some scope for rationalisation between the 22/23 and 60/61. In my experience, most customers let the 22/23 go in favour of the 60/61 which are more frequent, but all four buses are probably quieter than they could/should be (which is why we have seen reductions on the 60/61).
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