(23 Sep 2014, 7:23 pm)Dan wrote How long we giving this X21 before certain runs get axed?
I feel like a broken record here, but I happen to regularly see the departures of services 23/24 on a morning, between 0800 and 0900, and the loadings out of Sunderland are embarrassing compared to the X7.
The 0817 24 departure often stays on the layover until 30 seconds before it's due to leave, by which time service 61 has picked up all of its passengers travelling along the same route. As such, that one often departs with zero passengers. This month, I think the most passengers I've witnessed on board that run was approximately four - and that was when the 61 driver went to the toilet and some went to the 24 instead.
If I miss the 0830/0832 60/61 departures on a morning, I'm regularly the only passenger on-board service 23, departing at 0837.
The same is replicated throughout the day. I almost fell off my seat when I saw a 24 service passing my school with a staggering 14 passengers a week or two ago...
Once again, their attempts to provide a greater service in Sunderland is commendable, but I can't help but be sceptical about it. Let's hope the drivers of service X21 are informed of the different tickets available in Tyne & Wear!
One could argue that Arriva could have appealed to the market more by providing a Sunday service (something which is limited by Arriva on Sundays, and non-existent by Go North East), but it seems they haven't bothered to take the financial risk...
A Pulsar on the 24 on Saturday had about 20 passengers leaving Sunderland!