(Yesterday, 6:56 pm)logidoodah wrote 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)
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, 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.
With regarding Gateshead ive known multiple times leaving Newcastle with 2 or 3 but picking 10/11 people up at Gateshead, personally i would use the interchange gives passengers a choice of services to Sunderland if the metro goes down or they dont fancy sitting on the 56 for a long period also gives drivers a chance to curtail at the interchange if running extremely late, regarding the late one 21.30 unfortunately it would require a whole new driver as the driver who does the 20.09 x24 departure wouldn’t have enough running time to get back to Sunderland then back to Newcastle would be around 21.50/22.00 by the time the drivers gets back which pushes him extremely close to driving time without any diversions or delays. There is only 5 x24 drivers on the road during the day and adding a 6th for one trip wouldn’t be economical viable.
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