(23 Feb 2023, 10:20 am)Dan wrote 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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Some fair points about the 6/X21.

Great North Road was more about aligning things together rather than cutting buses so you'd have 12 buses an hour (every 5 minutes) rather than the usual 8 buses an hour plus the Q3 kind of just existing on top with ticketing between both or alternatively scrapping one of the 45's for an X46 instead.

Similar with the 22/23/60 being marketed as a 7.5 minute service rather than them just existing on top of each other. Not sure what you could do with the 61 though, it's like the awkward child similar to the 51 on the Coast Road.