(19 Aug 2025, 7:57 am)Storx wrote Probably not the right place but maybe another option would be to withdraw the V5 and X71 and move them into the Derwentside corridor with the X45 and 47? Something like this maybe which would open up a few new links in areas which currently have next to no service or a very poor one at that:


It's the sort of place I'd love to see BSIP money used personally. Whether you up the X70 to every 30 minutes at the same time, I'll let someone else decide but it's killed off two hourly services and a town service and I'm sure everyone knows what I think about those. 

You would need something for the other half of the V5 though, don't know what. Maybe just these extended through? One to Crookhall and the other to Templetown again giving more direct Newcastle links.

Whilst the services are very busy. The X70 certainly does not warrant a bus every 30 mins. Its certainly a ghost bus. Upping the 45 would be a good use of resources although many locals wish the retuen of the V3 V4 in that area. Theres some parts of the old V3 V4 9 (such as the route into consett) that a lot of old people live on and only have the infrequent 773 to rely on now the 16 goes a different way to the previous iteration of the 47 from Shotley Bridge Hospital.