(Yesterday, 11:54 am)Storx wrote imo if there's so much demand for the Kingston Park links, the 6 should be upped in frequency instead, rather than duplicating it. It wouldn't be such an issue if the 6 was a thriving bus route with a frequent day time and at least hourly Sunday and Evening service - but it's the polar opposite.

I don't think so much demand for the Kingston Park links does exist. Hence the M71 being proposed for withdrawal and the free bus only running between 10am and 2pm, four days a week. Both appear to have very low passenger numbers. As the Newbiggin Hall route is 1 return trip, a few people travel on that. 

The 6 is a complicated route, going between 2 completely different things in the Metrocentre and the Freeman, and interworking with the 7 for a combined 2bph, but that doesn't go to Kingston Park, which leaves that with a hourly service. Usually hourly services are unusable really. Not sure where the demand for Kingston Park comes from, if there is any.

Most likely the 6 would be more frequent if they cut the route somewhere and possibly separated it from the 7. 

For clarification, I was in favour of the M71 being withdrawn. Just put forward a possible explanation for why it was kept for another year. Guess it will go next March.