(11 hours ago)Storx wrote To be honest, I just have a feeling there's not many people really using it.
The X10 (GNE) and X12 do most the links direct much quicker.
There's only really Trimdon, Wingate and Fishburn who realistically might use it and I'm not sure there's enough there to warrant it.
Least heading to Darlington opens up new links which don't exist currently without a severe detour.
Views are very mixed on the proposed changes, some want the Aycliffe & Darlo link back, but understandably there's opposition to the removal of the current X22 to North Tees Hospital and Stockton, more for North Tees as is often the way when hospital links are removed.
Biggest issues with the routes are the fact it's essentially dead south of Sedgefield, not helped by the gaps of anywhere to pick up/drop off passengers for about 15 minutes, current X22 not being helped by the fact it largely dupes the X12 for the remainder of the route for Stockton aside from Thorpe Thewles which risks losing its bus service as a result and North Tees which is typically not a daily link for most aside from people who work there and the X12 stops close by. At very least the X21 provides a link which is now a nightmare to undertake, especially from Newton Aycliffe.
Comments are still being made wishing for the X12 to additionally serve Fishburn which Arriva suggested about doing in a survey a few year back but was left as it was.
If it was going to be running to/from Darlington again, not sure how it would work resource wise given the extra time it takes to run to Darlo via Aycliffe vs the current X22 to Stockton which requires 4 buses, unless it somehow got worked in with the 22/23/24 cycle.