(18 Mar 2014, 12:08 pm)fozzovmurton wrote Thinking about the East Durham Services...
I have probably mentioned this before...
How about a new service
New 203
Houghton-Hetton-Murton-Dalton Park-Hawthorn-Easington-Village-Peterlee 1PH
Have it go the 202 route round Murton (Station Estate-Wellfield Road-Barnes Road-Woods Terrace)
New Service 202
Murton Station-Dalton Park-A19-Peterlee-Horden-Blackhall-Hartlepool 1PH
Yes it may cut off South Hetton from Murton and Dalton Park, but whenever I use the 202, I see hardly anybody use it between Murton-Easington Lane/South Hetton and the loss of a service between Murton and Seaham, but that could be sorted with
New 61A
South Hetton-Easington Lane-Murton-Dalton Park-Fox Cover-Seaham-The Coast Road-Ryhope-Sunderland
This would cover the loss of the 202 between South Hetton and Seaham, keep the 61 timetable as it is, but have 1ph going out as 61A,
With the modified 202 and new 203, it would give Murton-Peterlee a quicker journey time
Also with the 203 suggestion, I would suggest that some early and later on services also include Rainton Bridge and Possibly EDC, NW and Bracken Hill Industrial Estates
I have other ideas on my mind, but I will probably be treading old ground
Nice suggestions, but a lot of the East Durham Network has to stay the same except for minor changes, their was a clause from DCC when GNE took them on commercially, as GNE had to maintain the links between certain areas which were secured and not commercially viable. I wonder if GNE is making a small profit on the East Durham services otherwise it would probably be back in the hands of DCC with either Arriva or Scarlet band running the services or GNE breaking even or small loss but not wanting Arriva or Scarlet band going in more GNE area.
when the renowns came off the X7, while the bus still has the X logo then GNE could of done a experimental X8 for 6 months for a service: Sunderland-Grangetown-Ryhope-Seaham Mill Inn-top of Seaham Avenue junction-Dalton Park-Easington then all stops to Peterlee and Hartlepool, and see what the takens is like.