(09 Aug 2024, 8:41 pm)Storx wrote Yeah totally agreed but even arguably you could argue those actually on the 21 corridor are at a disadvantage aswell. 

Like say if you live at Birtley, you might go to Newcastle for leisure but you might work at Washington and regularly go to the QE for whatever reason. If you can't get to work or the hospital and need a car, why bother using the bus when you've already got the car. I know I wouldn't.

Birtley to pretty much everywhere is a crap service bar Newcastle, so let's make that one better... erm okay...?

In reality, there's not that many people who live on the corridor. 
Ultimately, the 21 ploughs up and down High Streets and relies on services feeding in and out of it. 
If it wasn't for the 34 and it's ilk, who else is likely to walk the mile or so to/from the hilly estates in Chester or Birtley or the pre-war housing on the valleys surrounding Low Fell? 

Or in the example of my folks, who drive, park and use their twirly passes if they're popping in to the town. 

The irony being, that they have an infrequent bus within spitting distance of where they live plus frequent services passing close by. But each of them are feeding in to the hub and spoke model (which doesn't work for them). 
Easy enough getting to the town as the less frequent bus generally connects well with the more frequent Newcastle bus at the hub. 
Pain in the preverbial when the frequent bus from Newcastle doesnt arrive at a time that works for the less frequent bus home. Or the less frequent bus has finished for the night...