We’re having a short break in Yorkshire, and today we took the train into Whitby. It was absolutely jammed packed with people from Middlesbrough wanting to enjoy a day by the sea. On arrival, huge posters on the station concourse advertised the onward Arriva bus links from right outside the station, with details of through rail / bus fares. What a pity our local Arriva bus managers for Morpeth are not so enlightened – they won’t even run the busses into the station turning circle, let alone advertise them there. And yet, Newcastle – Morpeth is not so different to Middlesbrough – Whitby. Both routes served by Arriva bus and Arriva Northern train. But at Whitby there is no sense of the two being in competition with each other, and integration between both appears well developed. My final thought: how would Newbiggen’s fortunes be restored if, once the Ashington Blyth & Tyne line is re-opened, it is then extended further to Newbiggen? Would Newcastle – Newbiggen get as many passengers as Middlesbrough – Whitby? I don’t see why not.
