(29 Oct 2023, 10:14 pm)mb134 wrote They also serve South Gosforth (X7/8) and Haymarket (all relevant services), both of which are arguably better stations to serve than Northumberland Park which requires an additional change of Metro train if you're wanting to get to the airport for example. Regardless, they're trying to paint a Metro connection as a new thing when it has literally existed with bus services for years.
Come to think of it, I don't really understand the selling point of the change to the Metro at Northumberland Park because for lots of people it's borderline useless. If you're wanting to go south, then you'll stay on the train until Central where you have both Metro lines to choose from. If you're wanting the coast, then majority of places already have bus services which in a few cases will be quicker and cheaper than getting a train and Metro? For example from Seaton Delaval, there's a 57/A every 30 minutes which takes about 20 minutes, will the train/Metro combination be quicker than that when including the waiting time? Same with Blyth depending on where you are.
It hasn't been confirmed yet but I believe there's talk that the new train line is going to be part of the Nexus fare zones and was all part of the documents in the early days. There hasn't been much talk lately bar a newsletter confirming that the 'fare structure has been confirmed with partners' so it suggests there's something still there as if it was National Rail fares only then there wouldn't be any partners to discuss anything with.
Whether it's the TNE fare or whatever who knows but the 434 is definitely part of it and interworking with the trains, note the 00/32 times of the 434 leaving Ashington / Bedlington Station heading North so can assume where the train timetable is going to be for connections.
I'd be very surprised if the train timetable doesn't end being something like
Northbound: Bedlington Station (50/20), Ashington (55/25)
Southbound: Ashington (22/52), Bedlington Station (27/57)
Note there's driver's based at Ashington aswell which suggests the train is going to sit there and not Newcastle.