(16 Dec 2024, 6:10 pm)Shrek wrote Talking to a couple of people who got the New train to work today, they said they'll be going back to the bus from tomorrow. The time getting to the station instead of getting the bus from their doorstep, and the walk getting from Central Station to Haymarket just didn't save time. One said they prefer just getting door to door and not having to walk, they just put Netflix on their mobile and relax from door to work on the bus.

I think the train will do well, but I don't think it'll hit Arriva too much. They'll likely have different passengers. But door to door and no changes may be a psychological reason for a lot of bus users to stick with it.

Unless the travel pattern is more convenient, I don't think bus users will switch to the train. The biggest targets are:

- New builds
- Reducing car use and attracting car drivers who'd not dream of using a bus

Obviously any users who live right on the doorstep of a station (within a 10 minute walk) could be tempted.

Whilst Arriva are by no means perfect and have scope to improve, they've kept a relatively stable network in place and made some smart changes too even with a bit BSIP money. Unlike a certain two companies who got commercial goldmines propped up using the money!

The only changes I can see Arriva doing are maybe some services going from double to single deck....at least in the interim.

The bottom line is that there's been a lot of developments especially around the Blyth & Newsham areas. The bus & road networks are already at full capacity, not forgetting the developments around Cramlington too which also has a positive impact on the X21/X22.