(3 hours ago)Storx wrote It's the hourly that's a big problem though, it's borderline unusable for people who aren't working on fixed times as you could be sitting around 45 minutes if you time things wrong.This again! Clean, simple, easy to use and useful = passengers will use.
It's why everything ideally needs to be every 30 minutes so it's actually useable.
There's way too many hourly services right now imo. Obviously, assuming the routes you replied to, if it failed, you could get rid of it as it's mostly covered by other services anyway hence the day time running only but it's got a better chance being more frequent imo especially places like Leadgate etc.
Look at the 350/351 on the part between Holystone Park and Newcastle as a prime example. Make it useful and people will use.
If you look at the amount of crap and 'X, 41/42/43 and 363/364 variations that were running around Blyth and Cramlington before 2010 & 2012 - that's what the X30/X70 services are like at the moment.
The Metrocentre whilst not what it was before covid, does still make money. Get the 43/44/44A and 45/46/47/47A nailed down and profitable - taking passengers to two key and major locations with the MetroCentre as the 'inbetween'. X30/X31 via Gateshead will make money on a half hourly frequency. X70 will run at slight loss or breakeven to start with but potential to grow if more useful as a 30 minute service.
X44 around Whickham would also make money too especially with the 301 now running every 20 minutes as opposed to the 97/97A running upto every 10 minutes back in the day.