(7 hours ago)L469 YVK wrote I think with a clean 10 minute headway between Rowlands Gill and Newcastle, some runs could get away with single deckers.

Likewise for the X70 - some getting away with singles and others needing deckers. But a more simple service with a better frequency will increase passenger numbers overtime.

There really is no demand at all for the X70. Its literally dead excluding the morning and evening peak. 
I politely disagree with single deckers as the entire corridor is busy on X45/47 deckers are needed for the route. As even from consett there are healthy loads. Single deckers make no sense for it as they're always rammed whenever singles are put on.

(6 hours ago)TheClumsyPineapple wrote There really is no demand at all for the X70. Its literally dead excluding the morning and evening peak. 
I politely disagree with single deckers as the entire corridor is busy on X45/47 deckers are needed for the route. As even from consett there are healthy loads. Single deckers make no sense for it as they're always rammed whenever singles are put on.

That's looking at the now. Before July 2022 minus the temporary changes, there was 4 direct buses per hour from Consett to Newcastle (X45/X46 or 45/46) via the MetroCentre. Now there's only two not counting the 47 as that goes around the world from Consett.

Also, the Rowlands Gill corridor has been cut from 6bph to 4bph. All the abobe mean that deckers are needed.

Going back to the X70 point. What is an hourly service going to do to attract growth?

If you look at the X70 half-hourly, Burnopfield to Newcastle via Sunniside and Gateshead can sustain itself, probably just above break even.

Yes Sykes, Tantobie, Dipton and Leadgate section would be at a loss to start with. But the 43/44/44A and 45/46/47/47A and X30/X31 would make more than enough to hold their own especially the 40's. These suggestions are a prime example of what BSIP should be for - creating useful services, links and encouraging growth - not propping up goldmines like the 21!

The bottom line is that with all the tinkering done around Derwentside - GNE aren't far off what they were PVR wise.

It's like when the X31/X32/X33 and initial X21/X22 were changed around in 2012 - the Ashington, Bedlington section of the X22 ran as a loss leader but got hammered and well used at Bedlington running 5 minutes ahead of the X21 due to the X21 going via Nedderton. Clean easy-peasy 20 (or 30) minute frequency, simple routings and both are still going fairly strong.

Northumbria got a massive reset especially in 2012 and few tweaks aside other than having to quit the 50's & 685 due to Jesmond closing - it's been fairly stable.

Derwentside needs a full reset IMO. It can be done as shown.

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If you look at the X70 half-hourly, Burnopfield to Newcastle via Sunniside and Gateshead can sustain itself, probably just above break even.

Yes Sykes, Tantobie, Dipton and Leadgate section would be at a loss to start with. But the 43/44/44A and 45/46/47/47A and X30/X31 would make more than enough to hold their own especially the 40's. These suggestions are a prime example of what BSIP should be for - creating useful services, links and encouraging growth - not propping up goldmines like the 21!

The bottom line is that with all the tinkering done around Derwentside - GNE aren't far off what they were PVR wise.

It's like when the X31/X32/X33 and initial X21/X22 were changed around in 2012 - the Ashington to Bedlington section of the X22 ran as a loss leader but got hammered and well used at Bedlington running 5 minutes ahead of the X21 due to the X21 going via Nedderton. Clean easy-peasy 20 (or 30) minute frequency, simple routings and both are still going fairly strong and have grown.

Arriva Northumbria got a massive reset especially in 2012 and few tweaks aside other than having to quit the 50's & 685 due to Jesmond closing - it's been fairly stable.

Derwentside needs a full reset IMO. It can be done as shown.

(6 hours ago)TheClumsyPineapple wrote There really is no demand at all for the X70. Its literally dead excluding the morning and evening peak. 
I politely disagree with single deckers as the entire corridor is busy on X45/47 deckers are needed for the route. As even from consett there are healthy loads. Single deckers make no sense for it as they're always rammed whenever singles are put on.

Surely that's partially an advertising issue aswell though since the X45/X70/X71 are technically 4 BPH from Newcastle to Consett but people are avoiding the 70's. 

No doubt the X30/31/32/70/71/72/73 mess doesn't help things as unless you're good at timetables it's confusing. 

I wouldn't want to explain which one goes to Gateshead and which ones you can't use etc. 

Get rid of the X72/73 and send both the X70/X71 by Gateshead you've eliminated that issue. Not to mention Team Valley and Gateshead are places where people want to go unlike Whickham and Dunston but being hourly it's borderline unusable unless you like risks or can fix times which most people can't.