A rude shock awaited me on my way to work this morning, 6 weeks in to my new job at Percy Main. Bus 19 from Bedlington to Percy Main has been cut. No warning. No notice on the bus stop which is still showing an hourly service. Only when the bus didn\u2019t show up as I waited at Bedlington Station Co-op did I realise something was amiss. Later in the day, I observed bus stops in Tyne & Wear were showing the new timetable \u2013 only those in Northumberland were not updated. The route has been cut back to Cramlington, with only one journey per day starting from and returning to Ashington. But leaving Bedlington at 06:40 is too early for my 08:30 start, and returning from Percy Main at 18:09 is too late for my 17:30 finish. Of course, if such a thing as integrated transport existed, this crucial bus from Ashington and Bedlington to Northumberland Park would have been retained until The Northumberland Line opens, to give those who have got jobs at Cobalt or Silverlink and are reliant on public transport a chance of keeping their jobs. But no. Chop the bus 2 years before the replacement rail service is in place. As for me, it\u2019s now a new, and more expensive route to work namely train to Manors, then Metro to Percy Main. A chance to witness for myself how disconnected the interface between National Rail and Metro is at Percy Main. A real opportunity here for a quick win improvement with proper signage and integrated ticket, perhaps with full physical integration of the two stations later.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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