(03 Jun 2026, 9:44 pm)Storx wrote Not surprised either there tbh. The 21 is a hell of a bus route, at the best of times. Just feels a right slog through Low Fell etc. 

I used to go to Birtley once in a blue moon, and I'd do anything to avoid it, usually getting the X12 as you'd pass around 3 of them anyway while than ran express.

I know I'm late to the party but you can say that again! I'm rarely south of the Tyne but on the rare occasion I am, it's usually doing overnight vegging on the night buses. Even the N21 feels like a right mission through Low Fell. Even though theres no traffic, it's clearly been timed as if there is traffic. If it manages to leave town on time, it will always be early at more than one stop in Low Fell. And there was even once it took us about 10-15 minutes to leave town due to a police incident and we were still back on time by Low Fell