(15 Dec 2024, 6:42 pm)L469 YVK wrote See.....I'm hearing opposite. We've just got a new apprentice who lives in Ashington, and lives a good 15 minute walk away from the station so will still be using the X21.
Arriva must share the same view if they've decided to restore the 20 minute frequency on the X21/X22. If anything.....Arriva would be better going from doubles to singles rather than reducing frequency if demand dropped.
Had a walk through Gosforth this morning and paid some attention to the X21/22 loadings on the ones which passed me headed into Newcastle.
7562 on the 0621 X21 looked to have a healthy load, from what I could see I'd assume it was carrying at least 50.
1575 on the 0704 X22 had a full seated load when it passed me on approach to Regent Centre.
7550 on the 0651 X21 was definitely quieter than 7562, but I'd still say had around 30 on it after leaving Regent Centre.
1513 on the 0729 X22 again had a full seated load when it passed me on Gosforth High Street.
7575 on the 0749 X22 was pretty healthy, downstairs looked near enough full on approach to Blue House and from what I could see there was a handful upstairs too.
7554 on the 0731 X21 looked to be similar to 7550 when I saw it on Gosforth High Street.
1404 on the 0809 X22 looked to have around 20 on when getting to Regent Centre.
7551 on the 0831 X20 looked to be very healthy on its approach to Regent Centre too.
Wasn't paying attention when either the 0731 X20 or 0711 X21 passed me. Someone I know who regularly uses the 0639 X22 said it was a touch quieter than usual, but still busy.
Obviously all of these sightings were after Cramlington, where all of these services will have dropped off a fair few. A few were also after Regent Centre, which is obviously another pretty popular stop for NHS workers in particular.
Realistically the X21 could be impacted further by Bedlington Station opening, but the only station which you'd think could impact the X22 is now open, and on working day 1 there doesn't appear to have been any devastating impact to it.