(05 Dec 2024, 3:02 pm)Storx wrote Yeah, it has 45 minutes to run from Newcastle to CLS though. Went from 6 BPH to 8 BPH, I think? I'm questioning myself now.

If I recall correctly, it was two extra buses funded by the BSIP for the frequency increase and, effectively, one extra bus for punctuality. Three in total.

The latter does seem to have vastly improved with buses not bunching anyway near as often.

The downside, as I mooted a couple of weeks ago, is that the BSIP funding is being pump primed into a route that the operator isn’t showing enough care nor consideration for. Given GNE takes the revenue risk on this (the BSIP funding doesn’t cover the entire cost of the additional buses), they ought to be doing everything within their power to market the service, generate growth, and operate it to their very best ability, so that the entire cost is covered and this is something which is sustainable at the end of the BSIP.