(07 Feb 2015, 8:16 pm)Dan wrote Yeah - there was quite a few people in my school that hadn't actually used a bus prior to this year, though they had used the Metro.
The main reason why the Metro is favoured is due to the shorter journey time it can provide. Clearly, when issues arise, even the 56 between Sunderland and Newcastle ends up being twice as quick as the Metro! Even direct replacement buses don't provide a particularly fast journey time - I seem to remember the X3 service actually providing a quicker journey time than Metro Replacement 900 between Sunderland and Gateshead. Emergency replacement buses are absolutely dreadful to use and this is another reason why commuters are likely to dislike them. The 27 had to drive straight past customers at Heworth yesterday, never mind those on Sunderland Rd. Metros provide such a high capacity for the peaks (when commuters travel) - buses don't.
Nexus always time the replacement buses so slack you could probably walk the route quicker. Spent 4 weeks driving them last spring and honestly I could have walked to Regent Centre quicker at evening peak! Must be mad wanting to go and do it all again !