(2 hours ago)PH - BQA wrote The issue is that, as per previous, the people running this operation don't know how to get it right.
The cut to the X22 is expected, they've barely ran for the best part of a year, the X21 is the surprise - and they've made that decision without any data from Bedlington Station.
Ultimately they've only themselves to blame, the complete mismanagement of drivers and vehicles has put the writing on the wall. The Northumberland Line will, obviously, have taken people away from both services - but I'd think an equal (or larger) amount of people have binned off the bus given the shocking reliability of it.
See I don't think the X21 should exist going forward; it's obvious what's going to happen around Bedlington Station so get rid and replace it with a slow service like the 43 in Stobhill (same issues).
Something like that:
Would be much more beneficial for a Newcastle Express as it stays away from the areas where the train is, giving a much better service to South Ashington and Newbiggin which is a huge area and is way too slow right now (or non existent evenings / Sundays). There's no need for express buses from Bedlington Station or Ashington Town Centre now.