(16 Jan 2024, 10:06 pm)Ambassador wrote Cobalt is probably at its peak for express services to be honest, the bigger employers are still  hybrid and office days a result tend to be a more traditional 8-4/9–5 approach. You’ll see 309s and 22s carry fresh air through cobalt during the day

The 22X and X39 tend to be well loaded and whilst the 39 used to be the busier, since the strike and integrated ticketing the 22X seem more popular (possibly because it doesn’t stop at all stops from Cradlewell into Newcastle which does slow the X39 down and limit the diversion options)

Yeah you're probably right. It'll be interesting how profitable the Coast Road services are really, whenever I see them at this end of the route between Blyth and Seaton Sluice usually it's much of the same running around empty and that includes peak times.

When Durham Road can only sustain 6 buses an hour (9 with the X12/X21 at points), serves multiple large towns and 2 cities with no real competition. You really start to question whether they still needs to be 12 buses an hour along there, especially when there's not really any large towns at either end as they're served by the Metro or quicker buses to Blyth, and like you said, Cobalt is still part time working. Peak times maybe, off peak I'm not too sure.

6 buses in particular from Rake Lane to Blyth is just complete overkill imo.