(Yesterday, 10:39 am)Michael wrote 100% with that - not sure why they don't run later on a Friday or Saturday night - Stagecoach could make some more money.I have emailed and suggested this to Stagecoach multiple times over the years and just get the "not commercially viable repsonse". I literally travel on the X24 all the time and the last journeys of the night for both the X24/X34 are one of the the busiest loads of the day. I think its because the last few runs into Newcastle i.e the ones that make the last routes back carry fresh air, meaning only one way is sustainable.
I don't understand why they haven't at least tried this especially as look at the success of the Sunday routes.
Personally, I would do 1 more extra run for the X24 at like 21:30 which would still catch people finishing work, heading home and other connecting services.And for the X34 at like 21:45 to give the same (also catching the footfall at Boldon Cineworld/Nandos) for those later movies/meals (as the 35* does pick up a few people each time from here when it terminates on an evening)
(Yesterday, 12:57 pm)Storx wrote Yeah could see it being a big issue Gateshead. It's a shame they couldn't bin off the Gateshead bus stops and then register the buses to come in some different ways, maybe one through the Tunnel and along the Coast Road and another via the A1 and Redheugh Bridge, during the demolition works.
(Yesterday, 3:57 pm)Theboyle92 wrote The x25 would replace the X24A along that section to remove the confusion of passengers getting on a x24A thinking its going to hastings hill also it opens up potentially new passengers using a service that they would normally have to get a bus into sunderland then the x24 to Newcastle or the 20 to houghton then x1 from there also could remove some stagecoach x1 services and have that bus used somewhere else.
Personally I would bin off the X24 into Gateshead as there is never more than 2/3 people depart or board here and it won't take much longer to get the metro or 56 depending where yo are travelling from. This would also make th X24 more unique and likley to make money as opposed to going to the same places as 56/Metro. The blue route below is the way I woukd route this. Yes there would be a bit of conjestion on the A1 but this is more slow moving instead of start/stop so won't feel as bad. And also the 939 carrys very healthy loads for a nexus route therefore you could still make a X24A and add stops at HMRC, Concord & Washington for peak times. The lost links would be from Southwick but not many people actually get on the 939 there.
I would us the spare nexus cash from the 939 being replaced to help fund an extension to the 37 for links to doxford pk from Newcastle.
X24 Newcastle - Sunderland (via Team Valley & Chester Rd) [additionally stopping at Barmston Court, Concord & Washington at peaks as the "A" variant. But they would both travel the entirty of Chester Rd so its not confusing as drovers have mentioned on here...
X37 Newcastle - Seaham (via Gateshead, Amazon, Concord, Washington, Doxford Pk & Ryhope) this also introduces links to Doxford Park from Seaham which geographically should exist anyways, as they're relatively close to one another.
I would also change the route of the X34 to use the Swing Bridge heading out of town to avoid the traffic there with the X24 coming across the Redheugh bridge past gallowgate and onto Blackett St and then back out towards TV via the High Level.
And both the X24/X34 should use the spare stop on Blackett St where the 100 used to stop as this would be a better terminus than backing onto a junction like on pilgrim st. Better connectivity with Stagecoach's high frequency routes too.