(10 hours ago)Storx wrote [snip]
Ironically the 434, 'Northumberland Line Connect', leaves 2 minutes before the train arrives which is just moronic at both Ashington and Bedlington Station, knock the thing back by about 12 minutes and it would connect perfectly in both directions at both stations so there's not exactly much hope.
Is it known why the "connections" are so peculialy loose?
Someone must have thought about the timetable, but it seems (at best) extremely cautious about the time needed to move between bus stop and the platform, and about the timekeeping of the bus and train. Perhaps desperate to avoid criticism about say a delayed incoming bus missing a train, and vice versa; but if so that feels very weak thinking, basically designing for failure. Or is punctuality really that bad?
[Edit] To Newcastle, morning connections from bus to train are 22 mins at both Ashington and Bedlington. Afternoon return connections are 17 and 18 mins. So AM buses better if about 12 mins later, and PM buses about 12 mins earlier (and wait for trains, within reason.) Or are the 434 timings constrained by also serving school travel?