Suppose but they could link up a few of there runs together to run.

(20 Nov 2015, 6:59 pm)dannygee wrote Suppose but they could link up a few of there runs together to run.

This is what they are doing with the Q3 and Q3A.

South Tyneside Major Route Changes please note I haven't calculated PVRs properly just quick guessing these will be done at later stage

Service 88/A and Service 5

Service 88

Service terminates at Jarrow Bus Station no service beyond to Lukes Lane see below. Service 88A withdrawn, Service 5 renumbered 89
Service frequency : 88 Every 15 Mins with extra journeys around peak times ( Schools, Hospitals , Shoppers ) Currently unknown where the extra vehicles will be sourced but will come at a later stage.
Night time frequency uprated to every 20 mins offering 1 extra journey a hour than SNEs Service 18, all journeys on night time depart 5 mins before SNEs 18 apart from the new extra journey PVR10/11
: 89 ( 5 ) Every 30 Mins interworking with a few boards of the 88, Route Unchanged, Night Time Frequency unchanged at every hour interworking with a few bords of 88 PVR 4

Combined PVR 13 or 14 ( Riverside 4 Vehicles ( Corporate Volvo B7RLEs / Washington 9 or 10 7 Optare Versas 2 Scania L94UBs and 1 Volvo B7TL )
Peak time 88 workings are provided by Washington using Volvo B7TLs of Schools

Service J1 ( Jarrow Morrison's - Lukes Lane )

Replacing the remaining underused section of service 88/A this service will use Fuel Efficient Minibuses ( MPDs - Optrare Solos )

Route - The same as current service 88/A but will alternate running via Caledonian Street or not via Caledonian Street like todays 88/A every hour each routing.
For convenience of Shoppers the J1 will be extended from Jarrow Bus Station to Jarrow Morrison's and will terminate at Jarrow Morrison's.

Frequency - Every 30 Mins alternating via Caledonian Street or Avoiding it, every hour each route.

PVR - 2 with a bit tight timing ( Riverside Nexus Optare Solos )

Night Frequency - Every Hour after 1730 departures with PVR dropping to 1


Service 27 ( Newcastle City Centre - South Shields Asda )

The 27 will now run 24 Hours with Journeys every Hour from the current Market Street Terminus and finishing at Shields Asda like normal.
Night Bus allocations - Mercedes O530Ns to retain correct brand allocations.

Service 9

Frequency reduced to every 20 Mins with Deptford losing a board with only 1 board belonging to Deptford, Deptfords journeys will still terminate at Jarrow.

Service 57 ( Newcastle City Centre - Wardley ________ South Shields Asda Via Fellgate , Brockely Whins and Simonside )

Reintroducing the former 57 route via Fellgate, Brockely Whins and Simonside aka the former 57 route all the way from Shields. The former 57A via Whiteleas is not included in this proposal.

Frequency - Every 20 Mins

PVR - 7 or 8 ( Riverside Mercedes O530Ns ) Will need 2 to 4 more Citaros for this plan to work.

Night time frequency hasn't been worked out on this proposal.


A bit rushed but let me know what you think in the comments about this proposal

Thanks
South Tyne Lad

(20 Nov 2015, 7:03 pm)Dan wrote This is what they are doing with the Q3 and Q3A.

Yep. And the 309 with the 308. And the 1 with the 333.

What about the 310 turning at Westminsted avenue going round there and new york them back across roundabout to cobalt

(20 Nov 2015, 7:04 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote South Tyneside Major Route Changes please note I haven't calculated PVRs properly just quick guessing these will be done at later stage  

Service 88/A and Service 5

Service 88

Service terminates at Jarrow Bus Station no service beyond to Lukes Lane see below. Service 88A withdrawn, Service 5 renumbered 89
Service frequency : 88 Every 15 Mins with extra journeys around peak times ( Schools, Hospitals , Shoppers ) Currently unknown where the extra vehicles will be sourced but will come at a later stage.
Night time frequency uprated to every 20 mins offering 1 extra journey a hour than SNEs Service 18, all journeys on night time depart 5 mins before SNEs 18 apart from the new extra journey PVR10/11  
: 89 ( 5 ) Every 30 Mins interworking with a few boards of the 88, Route Unchanged, Night Time Frequency unchanged at every hour interworking with a few bords of 88 PVR 4

Combined PVR 13 or 14 ( Riverside 4 Vehicles ( Corporate Volvo B7RLEs / Washington 9 or 10 7 Optare Versas 2 Scania L94UBs and 1 Volvo B7TL )
Peak time 88 workings are provided by Washington using Volvo B7TLs of Schools

Service J1 ( Jarrow Morrison's - Lukes Lane )

Replacing the remaining underused section of service 88/A this service will use Fuel Efficient Minibuses ( MPDs - Optrare Solos )

Route - The same as current service 88/A but will alternate running via Caledonian Street or not via Caledonian Street like todays 88/A every hour each routing.
For convenience of Shoppers the J1 will be extended from Jarrow Bus Station to Jarrow Morrison's and will terminate at Jarrow Morrison's.

Frequency - Every 30 Mins alternating via Caledonian Street or Avoiding it, every hour each route.

PVR - 2 with a bit tight timing ( Riverside Nexus Optare Solos )

Night Frequency - Every Hour after 1730 departures with PVR dropping to 1


Service 27 ( Newcastle City Centre - South Shields Asda )

The 27 will now run 24 Hours with Journeys every Hour from the current Market Street Terminus and finishing at Shields Asda like normal.
Night Bus allocations - Mercedes O530Ns to retain correct brand allocations.

Service 9

Frequency reduced to every 20 Mins with Deptford losing a board with only 1 board belonging to Deptford, Deptfords journeys will still terminate at Jarrow.

Service 57 ( Newcastle City Centre - Wardley ________ South Shields Asda Via Fellgate , Brockely Whins and Simonside )

Reintroducing the former 57 route via Fellgate, Brockely Whins and Simonside aka the former 57 route all the way from Shields. The former 57A via Whiteleas is not included in this proposal.

Frequency - Every 20 Mins

PVR - 7 or 8 ( Riverside Mercedes O530Ns ) Will need 2 to 4 more Citaros for this plan to work.

Night time frequency hasn't been worked out on this proposal.


A bit rushed but let me know what you think in the comments about this proposal

Thanks
South Tyne Lad

With me living on the neighbouring Scotch Estate (South Leam) I would like this but with the 57A not serving Beacon Lough etc and running direct via Gateshead Interchange only after Heworth also I don't think the Peak 88 would need B7's just a St Wilfrids only bus running with a MPD or Solo SR. Also the 57A should be timed to run either every 10 or 7.5 combined with the 88 similar to the 45-7 now. The 88A could be kept running via Low Simonside before/after Brockley Whins/Scotch Estate.

(20 Nov 2015, 7:27 pm)dannygee wrote Yep. And the 309 with the 308. And the 1 with the 333.

What about the 310 turning at Westminsted avenue going round there and new york them back across roundabout to cobalt

Not really I believe the 309 came around after the Depot Swap of 2010, could be wrong.

(20 Nov 2015, 7:04 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote South Tyneside Major Route Changes please note I haven't calculated PVRs properly just quick guessing these will be done at later stage  

Service 88/A and Service 5

Service 88

Service terminates at Jarrow Bus Station no service beyond to Lukes Lane see below. Service 88A withdrawn, Service 5 renumbered 89
Service frequency : 88 Every 15 Mins with extra journeys around peak times ( Schools, Hospitals , Shoppers ) Currently unknown where the extra vehicles will be sourced but will come at a later stage.
Night time frequency uprated to every 20 mins offering 1 extra journey a hour than SNEs Service 18, all journeys on night time depart 5 mins before SNEs 18 apart from the new extra journey PVR10/11  
: 89 ( 5 ) Every 30 Mins interworking with a few boards of the 88, Route Unchanged, Night Time Frequency unchanged at every hour interworking with a few bords of 88 PVR 4

Combined PVR 13 or 14 ( Riverside 4 Vehicles ( Corporate Volvo B7RLEs / Washington 9 or 10 7 Optare Versas 2 Scania L94UBs and 1 Volvo B7TL )
Peak time 88 workings are provided by Washington using Volvo B7TLs of Schools

Service J1 ( Jarrow Morrison's - Lukes Lane )

Replacing the remaining underused section of service 88/A this service will use Fuel Efficient Minibuses ( MPDs - Optrare Solos )

Route - The same as current service 88/A but will alternate running via Caledonian Street or not via Caledonian Street like todays 88/A every hour each routing.
For convenience of Shoppers the J1 will be extended from Jarrow Bus Station to Jarrow Morrison's and will terminate at Jarrow Morrison's.

Frequency - Every 30 Mins alternating via Caledonian Street or Avoiding it, every hour each route.

PVR - 2 with a bit tight timing ( Riverside Nexus Optare Solos )

Night Frequency - Every Hour after 1730 departures with PVR dropping to 1


Service 27 ( Newcastle City Centre - South Shields Asda )

The 27 will now run 24 Hours with Journeys every Hour from the current Market Street Terminus and finishing at Shields Asda like normal.
Night Bus allocations - Mercedes O530Ns to retain correct brand allocations.

Service 9

Frequency reduced to every 20 Mins with Deptford losing a board with only 1 board belonging to Deptford, Deptfords journeys will still terminate at Jarrow.

Service 57 ( Newcastle City Centre - Wardley ________ South Shields Asda Via Fellgate , Brockely Whins and Simonside )

Reintroducing the former 57 route via Fellgate, Brockely Whins and Simonside aka the former 57 route all the way from Shields. The former 57A via Whiteleas is not included in this proposal.

Frequency - Every 20 Mins

PVR - 7 or 8 ( Riverside Mercedes O530Ns ) Will need 2 to 4 more Citaros for this plan to work.

Night time frequency hasn't been worked out on this proposal.


A bit rushed but let me know what you think in the comments about this proposal

Thanks
South Tyne Lad

people like myself would go off it if that happened the 88/88A is fine the way it is right now some of my family would go off it

(20 Nov 2015, 8:05 pm)Diamond One wrote people like myself would go off it if that happened the 88/88A is fine the way it is right now some of my family would go off it

Straight to the ''Whats Annoying you Today? V4'' thread?

(20 Nov 2015, 8:07 pm)R852 PRG wrote Straight to the ''Whats Annoying you Today? V4'' thread?

Let us not forget the demise of the 27X. 

(20 Nov 2015, 8:05 pm)Diamond One wrote people like myself would go off it if that happened the 88/88A is fine the way it is right now some of my family would go off it

Do you actually use the 88/88A to Lukes Lane? If you don't, you don't really have a reason to 'go off it'.

(20 Nov 2015, 7:34 pm)DanPicken wrote With me living on the neighbouring Scotch Estate (South Leam) I would like this but with the 57A not serving Beacon Lough etc and running direct via Gateshead Interchange only after Heworth also I don't think the Peak 88 would need B7's just a St Wilfrids only bus running with a MPD or Solo SR. Also the 57A should be timed to run either every 10 or 7.5 combined with the 88 similar to the 45-7 now. The 88A could be kept running via Low Simonside before/after Brockley Whins/Scotch Estate.

That's were my idea of peak time extras came from, from the schools. don't think a MPD or Solo would suit that type of service though.

the idea of the 57 is to provide a more direct bus to the Toon compared to the 27 aswell as serving areas of Shields that were left with only the metro a couple of years ago now.

Like the low Simonside idea just would involve a quite lengthy loop back on itself or a route change which would involve running through the notorious Scotch Estate accesses roads I'm sure you know what I mean by notorious hahaha

(20 Nov 2015, 8:05 pm)Diamond One wrote people like myself would go off it if that happened the 88/88A is fine the way it is right now some of my family would go off it

The 88/A are not used enough when I use it as far as Hebburn and Lukes Lane so it makes sense splitting it with the busier Jarrow - Shields section and decrease the frequency of the Jarrow - Lukes Lane section to save money and be more reliable.
And to add further no one uses the 88/A from Monkton Lane and hebburn all the way to Shields when they can use the quicker 27, The furthest they will use it will be to Jarrow which is why I split the route theere but the J1 also runs to the Morrisons with the new 88/89 to provide those affected access to Jarrow and Hebburn shopping areas aswell as fast quick connections to other destinations.

(20 Nov 2015, 8:09 pm)S813 FVK wrote Do you actually use the 88/88A to Lukes Lane? If you don't, you don't really have a reason to 'go off it'.

It carries a few people an hour if lucky.

(20 Nov 2015, 8:23 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote That's were my idea of peak time extras came from, from the schools. don't think a MPD or Solo would suit that type of service though.

the idea of the 57 is to provide a more direct bus to the Toon compared to the 27 aswell as serving areas of Shields that were left with only the metro a couple of years ago now.

Like the low Simonside idea just would involve a quite lengthy loop back on itself or a route change which would involve running through the notorious Scotch Estate accesses roads I'm sure you know what I mean by notorious hahaha

I do know what you mean by notorious haha my scholars serves Low Simonside before Brockley Whins, there's only about 15 at the most apart from half days which would need a B7 but GCT may be able to do my scholars unlike GNE.

(20 Nov 2015, 8:30 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote The 88/A are not used enough when I use it as far as Hebburn and Lukes Lane so it makes sense splitting it with the busier Jarrow - Shields section and decrease the frequency of the Jarrow - Lukes Lane section to save money and be more reliable.
And to add further no one uses the 88/A from Monkton Lane and hebburn all the way to Shields when they can use the quicker 27, The furthest they will use it will be to Jarrow which is why I split the route theere but the J1 also runs to the Morrisons with the new 88/89 to provide those affected access to Jarrow and Hebburn shopping areas aswell as fast quick connections to other destinations.

My Auntie lives at Monkton Lane and only uses the 27 as the 88 is less frequent and pointless for her.

(20 Nov 2015, 8:30 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote The 88/A are not used enough when I use it as far as Hebburn and Lukes Lane so it makes sense splitting it with the busier Jarrow - Shields section and decrease the frequency of the Jarrow - Lukes Lane section to save money and be more reliable.
And to add further no one uses the 88/A from Monkton Lane and hebburn all the way to Shields when they can use the quicker 27, The furthest they will use it will be to Jarrow which is why I split the route theere but the J1 also runs to the Morrisons with the new 88/89 to provide those affected access to Jarrow and Hebburn shopping areas aswell as fast quick connections to other destinations.

The problem with splitting the 88(A) is driver changes would need to take place at Jarrow resulting in increased ineffective travel time from Washington depot. The current route using the stop on Campbell Park Road works fine with easy travel to and from Washington and plenty of space to park the van and bus.

An X27 early morning/late evening service which is interworks with service 5 and could potentally save on dead milage.

(20 Nov 2015, 7:27 pm)dannygee wrote Yep. And the 309 with the 308. And the 1 with the 333.

What about the 310 turning at Westminsted avenue going round there and new york them back across roundabout to cobalt

The 310 could actually afford to deviate slightly  by operating between the traffic lights on Middle Engine Lane to Cobalt South via New York Way and Silver Fox Way past HP and the Nursery (same route that the 19 and briefly the 309) used to take. From the Cobalt Central roundabout, it would then turn left down Cobalt Park Way past the CBX and NCL Building Society to Cobalt South then back on normal route. Would mean that the likes of the Village, Accenture and Santander would be a bit of a walk but would be great for EE who would most likely be open on Boxing Day.

(20 Nov 2015, 7:35 pm)DanPicken wrote Not really I believe the 309 came around after the Depot Swap of 2010, could be wrong.

The 309 was introduced solely by GNE in March 2007. When it got increased a year later in 2008 (same time that the 1&2 got extended), Arriva technically took on the whole 308 route using 6x E40Ds and 3x Lowlanders (they ordered 6 on the basis of GNE operating the other 3x boards but GNE focused their efforts on the 309 instead). GNE however, did operate a very limited Bargain Bus 308 service after March 2008 but when the 2010 swap happened, this went to Arriva whom then axed the extra Bargain Bus runs and just had a standard 15 minute service like what they had after March 2008.

(10 Dec 2012, 6:41 pm)Dan wrote I'd like to see the "Tyne Tees eXpress" services re-routed to include Sunderland. Though this would increase the journey time by approximately 40 minutes or so, I think this would be better.
These (improved) services could then replace Sunderland's X3 service, allowing the current Citaros and/or Renowns to be used on another service (such as the one you suggested) or to replace smaller vehicles (such as MPDs) on the 39 service.
In addition to it replacing the X3 and ultimately being a lot better (further buses after 6pm or so when the X3s finish), it could provide an additional direct service to Peterlee - the 202 would still operate to cover those stops the X9/X10 don't due to it being a limited stop service.
Those who want to stop before Boldon should use the 26 or 9 services. ;-)

Oh yeah, and this would hopefully provide a more reliable timetable. The X9/X10 services rarely have waiting time at Newcastle as they should. With the additional 10 minutes or so waiting time required at Newcastle for the timings to work as they should, the driver would actually get the waiting time!

I think it would be good if the X9 or X10 stopped off at Dalton Park too.

---

(21 Nov 2015, 9:49 am)GuyParkRoyal wrote The problem with splitting the 88(A) is driver changes would need to take place at Jarrow resulting in increased ineffective travel time from Washington depot. The current route using the stop on Campbell Park Road works fine with easy travel to and from Washington and plenty of space to park the van and bus.

Can't really understand why South Tyne isn't operated from Riverside depot?

(03 Sep 2015, 8:29 pm)Jimmi wrote Think there is a low bridge just outside Seaham which would prevent the allocation of double deckers on service X7.

Yes. There is a low railway bridge in the Seaham/Ryhope area, I also think this is why deckers are prevented on this route.

(26 Nov 2015, 10:03 pm)Richard Young wrote Yes.  There is a low railway bridge in the Seaham/Ryhope area, I also think this is why deckers are prevented on this route.

After guessing that the bridge in question is after Seaham as deckers can operate service 60 until that point (i know they don't follow the same route), the only railway bridge that i can find on the X7 route is going over the railway just after Spectrum Business Park on the A182. By this time, the 60 has gone up Hill Crescent which is the location of the low bridge which stops the 60 from being allocated deckers.

EDIT: It goes under a railway bridge on the B1287 just before the roundabout where it goes onto the A1018 - guessing that this is the bridge in question. An alternative route allowing deckers would be to reroute it along the A1018 then along the B1285 and Lord Byrons Walk before rejoining the B1287 as normal where Tonia's cafe is (would normally follow the road around as opposed to turning off at that junction).

29 - Chester le Street - Pelton Fell - Grange Villa - Beamish - Pelton - Ouston - Kibblesworth - Team Valley South - Low Fell - Bensham - Gateshead - Teams - Dunston - MetroCentre
Every 1 Hour - Merging with Service 64 and Extending from Kibblesworth to Chester le Street and MetroCentre

X29 - Chester le Street - Kibblesworth - Team Valley  - Bensham - Dunston - Newcastle
Monday to Friday Peak Time Express Merging with Service 937

10 - Hexham - Corbridge - Riding Mill - Branch End - Prudoe - Crawcrook - Ryton - Blaydon - MetroCentre - Newcastle
Every 30 Minutes - Route remains the same and Frequency remains the same, Branded "Tyneside Northumberland Connect"

11/11A - Newcastle - MetroCentre - Ryton - Crawrook - Prudoe - Prudoe Train Station - Eltringham - Mickley Square - Headley on the Mill - Leadgate - Greenside - Crawcrook - Ryton - Blaydon - MetroCentre - Newcastle
Every 15 Minutes, Services 10/10A Re-Numbered 11/11A, Merging together to Provide a Clockwise/Anti Clockwise Loop between Crawcrook and Prudoe, Branded "Tyneside Northumberland Connect"

48 - Newcastle - Scotswood Road - Blaydon - Ryton - Crawcrook - Greenside - High Spen - Chopwell - Blackhall Mill
Service 11 Re-Numbered 48 Joining the Red Kite Network, Every 30 Minutes

Tyneside Northumberland Connect...catchy.

(28 Nov 2015, 8:39 pm)Malarkey wrote 29 - Chester le Street - Pelton Fell - Grange Villa - Beamish - Pelton - Ouston - Kibblesworth - Team Valley South - Low Fell - Bensham - Gateshead - Teams - Dunston - MetroCentre
Every 1 Hour - Merging with Service 64 and Extending from Kibblesworth to Chester le Street and MetroCentre

X29 - Chester le Street - Kibblesworth - Team Valley  - Bensham - Dunston - Newcastle
Monday to Friday Peak Time Express Merging with Service 937

10 - Hexham - Corbridge - Riding Mill - Branch End - Prudoe - Crawcrook - Ryton - Blaydon - MetroCentre - Newcastle
Every 30 Minutes - Route remains the same and Frequency remains the same, Branded "Tyneside Northumberland Connect"

11/11A - Newcastle - MetroCentre - Ryton - Crawrook - Prudoe - Prudoe Train Station - Eltringham - Mickley Square - Headley on the Mill - Leadgate - Greenside - Crawcrook - Ryton - Blaydon - MetroCentre - Newcastle
Every 15 Minutes, Services 10/10A Re-Numbered 11/11A, Merging together to Provide a Clockwise/Anti Clockwise Loop between Crawcrook and Prudoe, Branded "Tyneside Northumberland Connect"

48 - Newcastle - Scotswood Road - Blaydon - Ryton - Crawcrook - Greenside - High Spen - Chopwell - Blackhall Mill
Service 11 Re-Numbered 48 Joining the Red Kite Network, Every 30 Minutes

It probably won't join the red kite network, as the 47 is branded because on the fact that it's on part of the red kite walk route (Swalwell - rowlands gill)

Would like to see it happen though.

(26 Nov 2015, 10:12 pm)S813 FVK wrote After guessing that the bridge in question is after Seaham as deckers can operate service 60 until that point (i know they don't follow the same route), the only railway bridge that i can find on the X7 route is going over the railway just after Spectrum Business Park on the A182. By this time, the 60 has gone up Hill Crescent which is the location of the low bridge which stops the 60 from being allocated deckers.

EDIT: It goes under a railway bridge on the B1287 just before the roundabout where it goes onto the A1018 - guessing that this is the bridge in question. An alternative route allowing deckers would be to reroute it along the A1018 then along the B1285 and Lord Byrons Walk before rejoining the B1287 as normal where Tonia's cafe is (would normally follow the road around as opposed to turning off at that junction).

That's why the old northern X96 service was all single decker allocation with the coaches during the day and mini mercs on evenings

If GCT were to give up 515 could create a Hebburn links extending it to Jarrow as some driver once said when 27X was still around it could of extended it to Jarrow to gain more customers could have an express service again Jarrow to Newcastle and call it X27 running 515 route 27 route could run it hourly

(28 Nov 2015, 9:35 pm)Diamond One wrote If GCT were to give up 515 could create a Hebburn links extending it to Jarrow as some driver once said when 27X was still around it could of extended it to Jarrow to gain more customers could have an express service again Jarrow to Newcastle and call it X27 running 515 route 27 route could run it hourly

It couldn't be the X27 as one already exists.

(28 Nov 2015, 10:51 pm)DanPicken wrote It couldn't be the X27 as one already exists.

To be honest, Go North East were at one point running two 29 services. One running through Sunderland (now the 'See It Do It' services), and one running through Gateshead. Also, that X27 only runs once a year when the Great North Run is on.

I do think that an "express 27" could provide some competition with the Metro, however day tickets are not as competitively priced on the bus. For example, it's £3.80 from Jarrow to Newcastle for a Day Saver on the Metro, whereas it's over £6 for a Red & Purple Day Saver on the 27.

(26 Nov 2015, 9:59 pm)Richard Young wrote I think it would be good if the X9 or X10 stopped off at Dalton Park too.

---

Can't really understand why South Tyne isn't operated from Riverside depot?

I have been saying the same for nearly 10 years now, but the roads in and out are awkward, even now with Phase 2 nearing completion, there is not looking like any vast improvement on getting off the A19 to DP...It is pretty simple going North, straight off and back on, going going South, you have get off and double back on yourself to get into Dalton Park, if a new road was built to go in through the back, that may work, but at present you could probably add quite a few minutes at least getting into DP heading South, on a bad day it can take forever just to get off the A19.

One way round your suggestion, would be the X9 or X10 to come off the A19 at Seaton and follow the 61 to Dalton Park, maybe even add a stop at the Mallard at Deneside(I believe it goes that way when it is on Diversion anyway if the A19 is shut in that area)

The 239 and the 4 on a night operate on a combined 30 min frequency on a night from Houghton to Fencehouses Railway Crossing.
Obviously the 4 continues towards Washington, whilst the 239 heads through Avenue Vivienne covering for the lack of a night time service on the 36.

On the return leg towards Houghton, the two services follow each other from Edinburgh bakery.
Not a bad little frequency at that time of night - two services 30 seconds apart.
Ideal if you miss one as the other isn't far behind.

Given the scope in timetables and lack of provision at Rainton Bridge on a night (despite people working down there and there being events on at the grandly named Rainton Meadows Arena), I wonder if it would be worth sending one of the services down there on a night and on into Houghton via the A690.

There shouldn't be too much difference in mileage.
The timetable is slack anyway (particularly the 4) and there is the potential to pick up a few more passengers. Rather than have one service shadow the other for a few miles.

(30 Nov 2015, 12:34 pm)MrFozz wrote I have been saying the same for nearly 10 years now, but the roads in and out are awkward, even now with Phase 2 nearing completion, there is not looking like any vast improvement on getting off the A19 to DP...It is pretty simple going North, straight off and back on, going going South, you have get off and double back on yourself to get into Dalton Park, if a new road was built to go in through the back, that may work, but at present you could probably add quite a few minutes at least getting into DP heading South, on a bad day it can take forever just to get off the A19.

One way round your suggestion, would be the X9 or X10 to come off the A19 at Seaton and follow the 61 to Dalton Park, maybe even add a stop at the Mallard at Deneside(I believe it goes that way when it is on Diversion anyway if the A19 is shut in that area)

The TTX is often over capacity already without stopping off at another major centre. It would also beging to defeat the point of the "Express" in its name. It's currently a genuinely fast long distance service.

GNE's links to Dalton Park from the south  and west are surprisingly poor, mind. Arriva seems to have the monopoly, there, with the 22. Getting there from somewhere like Houghton is a complete faff on.