(13 Jul 2014, 10:21 am)aureolin wrote Whilst I do think that GNE should have a link between Newcastle and Cramlington, I think it should be nothing more than a short express working. I can't see why you'd need a link from Cramlington to Benton Asda though? How many people would be wanting to carry a load of shopping all that way, when there's a Sainsburys, Asda, Morrisons, and Aldi in Cramlington anyway?
I believe the 17 is funded between Cramlington and Benton ASDA, but I may be wrong. The passenger numbers aren't the best on the 17 to start with, so I doubt a fifteen minute frequency is needed.
I don't think a express between Newcastle and Cramlington would work for Go North East to be honest. Arriva have pretty good services along the corridor, operating to a good standard. You have the 43 every 15 minutes, X5 every 30 minutes, X10/X11 every 10 minutes and X13 every 30 minutes, along with the longer 52 every 30 minutes. The fares are decently cheap too (I think they have some sort of daysaver), so if GNE were going to operate a service every 30 minutes I don't think it would be used.