(08 Dec 2024, 5:50 pm)Malarkey wrote For me they've just merged several routes together to make them more commercially sustainable than what they are in there current format however the changes offer no benefits to customers travelling with Go North East in the Sunderland/South Tyneside areas from what I can see.

I do think the changes to Service 2 have been required for some years as never seen the point of the 2A however again Go North East have failed with this change by dropping the frequency to a "Minimum Service Level Frequency" of Every 20 Minutes. This will likely result in Buses being full and standing and not operating to the scheduled timetable and this a scenario already playing out on the Coaster 1 & Voltra 53/54 in Gateshead, you'd think the higher ups at Go North East would learn from such mistakes by rectifying them but again they continue to make even more mistakes.

They've merged two routes together to save themselves a bus. Adamantly, it's not a huge footfall to Biddick and the Arts Centre, but the 2/2A combined carry a pretty decent footfall from the Galleries to Penshaw/Sunderland and then again people travelling along Chester Road.

The 2/2A provide a link from Washington to the nearest hospital in Sunderland. The changes, with no purpose other than to tighten the financial margin, actually end up cutting off a chunk of Washington and Penshaw from that. Telling people to use the 8 is no good, as it takes you on a route through Sunderland that most people wouldn't use.

If the purpose is to drop a bus, they could have quite easily re-routed the 2 through Barnwell at its current frequency and had the 2A as a standalone service (even hourly), serving the section of Penshaw that they're cutting off. 

Its worth pointing out that under BSIP, operatators are supposed to ensure "That bus users and effected communities will be consulted with prior to a major route or timetable change to ensure impacts are fully considered.", but this is presented as a fait accompli.