(20 Feb 2024, 2:49 pm)mb134 wrote I'm not too sure, some of the timings look very tight and obviously it's all coordinated at the Newcastle end to ensure no disruption to the ECML services which will 100% get priority. There is at least one train (1148 ex Newcastle) which is timed to stop at Benton to allow something to pass, but has no time to actually do so.
Even in your example of the X22 the main area of housing there is around Fallowfield, which is a 15+ minute walk to the train station. So you're already looking at it being nearly one hour into Central on a train which is less frequent and a hefty walk in the rain (we're in England after all).
To be fair to Haymarket (and Eldon Square), it's right next to the universities, main shopping street/centre, council offices, and RVI just as some examples.
Aye guess, it depends how much padding it has. 12 minutes from Northumberland Park seems quite a long time so feels like there's some fitted in there. That's all unknown though, plenty other places where they seem to work in harmony. Mind the fact that they must be Class 158's will help though with their faster acceleration etc and will keep up with the express services anyway - don't believe it's anywhere near 125mph along that stretch anyway.
The bigger point it though, is though if you started work at 8am, getting the train in at 7.36 (leaves Ashington at 7am), would be a pretty safe bet, using the same bus you'd be looking at 06.09 which get's in at 07:15 as getting a bus in at 07:45 is just too risky. Gap starts to widen a bit then, even with the 15 minute walk.
That dilemma used to be a BIG problem for me personally when I used to go college using the 363/X4 (now X7) as it used to be similar times and in the end I just gave up and ended up getting a lift to Northumberland Park and getting the Metro in. The times, have never changed either. I know there's quite a few people who do similar who work in Newcastle aswell.
Like using it today, for a 9am start it would be either the 07:23 bus or the 08:17 train and both had a walk as I'd just be doing it in Newcastle if using the bus instead. The train would win without a doubt for me. Obviously if you work near Haymarket then it starts to twist in the bus favour.