(12 Aug 2025, 8:59 am)S830OFT wrote I would say with regards to the Houghton-le-Spring services, they could easily reintroduce the 79A on a daytime frequency with some adjustments, which could allow the withdrawal of the 79/168/520, and allow the PVR to be reduced to 2 buses from 3 on a 60 minute frequency.
Proposed Route:
(Sheriffs Moor Estate | Easington Lane High Street | Peat Carr Estate | Hetton Interchange | Park Estate | Hazard Lane | Quarry House Lane | Gillas Lane | Hall Lane Estate | Elizabeth Street | Hillside Way | Houghton-le-Spring | Dairy Lane Estate | Fence Houses | Avenue Vivian | Burnside Estate | Blind Lane | Shiney Row | Barnwell)
The service would continue to operate it's circular route around Barnwell.
In order for the service to be able to operate hourly, the following would have to take place:
- Service would no longer serve Hetton Downs, with this section covered by GNE service 32.
- Service would no longer serve East Rainton, with the service stopping in walking distance on Quarry House Lane (Hail and Ride section)
- Service would no longer serve Houghton Health Centre, although anyone for Fence Houses can walk to the main road & catch service 71, or alternatively walk to Burnside Estate or Houghton Town Centre where the service will stop.
- Service would no longer serve Newbottle Front Street, with services 32 & X1 providing alternatives for journeys.
Or indeed if that's not able to be done, possibly a 178 & 179 service, with both operating every two hours, combining to offer an hourly service, with one serving so many estates & the other doing the remaining along the route to ensure an even headway & that each area still has access to a bus service?
I respect it's awhile away yet but imo they need to scrap the hub and spoke model that they've attempted down there which really doesn't work at all.
All the local, or at least most of them. Should be extended onto longer services so people actually have long journeys going to places where people want to be.
It's all great creating all these links to places like Houghton but who wants to go there in the first place? The place died 20 years ago.
The Washington, Chester Le Street, Peterlee and Houghton locals just do not work hence most of it is subsidised, one way or another.
Get them bolted or merged into stuff like the X1, 2, 4, 56, 21 etc imo.