North East Buses

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(01 Dec 2024, 5:52 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]I know this is starting to mix up subsidised and commercial routes now so it's a bit more complicated but for the stuff you mentioned I'd do something like:

X2 (Was 25) - 8 - 50

Reasons for changes:
Faster 50 route into Washington not around the world.

New link from Washington, CLS and South Birtley to Stadium of Light on the 8

Extension of 82 so it actually goes somewhere rather than terminating in a business park.

Quicker X2 from Washington to Sunderland, should help reduce some loads on Chester Road

New direct links to Newcastle in South Washington without changing

New direct links from Birtley to Sunderland

New direct links to the East from North Chester Le Street and Vigo Lane

Sorts out the absolute mess of the 81/82.

4 BPH between Castletown, Southwick and Sunderland (combined with 35).

More express buses between Newcastle / QE / Wrekenton and another express route for Birtley avoiding Low Fell.

Negatives
Very small section of Washington loses direct link to Chester Le Street

Picktree loses 2 buses an hour, but there's nothing there anyway

This is the sort of stuff where BSIP should be going imo. For the rest of the stuff you mentioned you've got the 2/2A to play around with as they don't really need to do the route they do into Washington anymore as they're covered by the X2 or 8 so there's flexibility to play with them.

Whilst youre at it maybe sort out the 26, 27, 33, 35, 39/A/B, 51/52 57/58, 61 & R2.

(01 Dec 2024, 6:25 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote [ -> ]Whilst youre at it maybe sort out the 26, 27, 33, 35, 39/A/B, 51/52 57/58, 61 & R2.

Ha I wouldn't have a clue, just know Birtley as I used to have a mate who lived nearby so had to get a bus there once in a blue moon.

Personally I think Durham Road is one of the worst corridors in the North East though. Way too many buses on the 21 which force people on the further out areas to suffer horribly long journey times as they're stopping every 50 yards and not enough express services from the likes of Chester Le Street or alternatively places like Waldridge Park and Fencehouses with no service at all without a change.

2 buses an hour on the 21 is enough beyond the Angel imo, if there was a decent express service getting people from Birtley and Chester Le Street to Newcastle where ultimately people want to be. What you do with the other 6 buses is open for debate but removing the duplicates like the 25 and 29 would be a good start.

(01 Dec 2024, 6:25 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote [ -> ]Whilst youre at it maybe sort out the 26, 27, 33, 35, 39/A/B, 51/52 57/58, 61 & R2.

Btw I know you were trying to kill off the Washington Locals before which I agree with personally I'd look at splitting the 56 so you'd end up with three routes like this:

[attachment=10862]

55: Newcastle to Washington
56: Newcastle to Sunderland
57: Washington to Sunderland

Then combine them together to give a 10 minute service on the combined parts with hopefully the extra passengers coming from what is the current Washington 'loop' being enough to make it sustainable.

20 minute is more than enough for the full route, I'd doubt there's that many crossing over Concord.

'Loop' being sarcastic as it turns around in Concord anyway so wouldn't be a change anyway.

(01 Dec 2024, 5:52 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]I know this is starting to mix up subsidised and commercial routes now so it's a bit more complicated but for the stuff you mentioned I'd do something like:

X2 (Was 25) - 8 - 50

Reasons for changes:
Faster 50 route into Washington not around the world.

New link from Washington, CLS and South Birtley to Stadium of Light on the 8

Extension of 82 so it actually goes somewhere rather than terminating in a business park.

Quicker X2 from Washington to Sunderland, should help reduce some loads on Chester Road

New direct links to Newcastle in South Washington without changing

New direct links from Birtley to Sunderland

New direct links to the East from North Chester Le Street and Vigo Lane

Sorts out the absolute mess of the 81/82.

4 BPH between Castletown, Southwick and Sunderland (combined with 35).

More express buses between Newcastle / QE / Wrekenton and another express route for Birtley avoiding Low Fell.

Negatives
Very small section of Washington loses direct link to Chester Le Street

Picktree loses 2 buses an hour, but there's nothing there anyway

This is the sort of stuff where BSIP should be going imo. For the rest of the stuff you mentioned you've got the 2/2A to play around with as they don't really need to do the route they do into Washington anymore as they're covered by the X2 or 8 so there's flexibility to play with them.

You could easily shave 40 minutes off the journey time by not having the existing route going through every estate and instead have it run Express between Durham & CLS, CLS & Washington and Washington and Boldon to South Shields, end to end would be 60 minutes rather than a 100 as it is now.

The 82 Extension could be from Waterview Park and have it operate through onto Nissan then operate the northern section of the current 50 route into South Shields, from opposite side of the route from Birtley have it run down into CLS to pick up the western section of the route into Durham

With the X2 I agree there should be an express service, personally I would withdraw the 2A and have the 8 go through Biddick rather than Glebe or have a variation of the 4 cover this section of the route covering through to the top of Penshaw.

I think the Evening/Sunday only Service 81 should run all day 7 days a week with an extension from Gateshead into Newcastle creating a permanent direct link.

You could play the Stagecoach Express Card by having an X56 running from the City Centre via the 56 route then from Town End Farm direct into Gateeshead onto Newcastle via A19/Felling Bypass again like the 50 offering a faster service without going around the houses and shaving around 30 minutes off of the journey.

(01 Dec 2024, 11:34 pm)Malarkey wrote [ -> ]You could easily shave 40 minutes off the journey time by not having the existing route going through every estate and instead have it run Express between Durham & CLS, CLS & Washington and Washington and Boldon to South Shields, end to end would be 60 minutes rather than a 100 as it is now.

The 82 Extension could be from Waterview Park and have it operate through onto Nissan then operate the northern section of the current 50 route into South Shields, from opposite side of the route from Birtley have it run down into CLS to pick up the western section of the route into Durham

With the X2 I agree there should be an express service, personally I would withdraw the 2A and have the 8 go through Biddick rather than Glebe or have a variation of the 4 cover this section of the route covering through to the top of Penshaw.

I think the Evening/Sunday only Service 81 should run all day 7 days a week with an extension from Gateshead into Newcastle creating a permanent direct link.

You could play the Stagecoach Express Card by having an X56 running from the City Centre via the 56 route then from Town End Farm direct into Gateeshead onto Newcastle via A19/Felling Bypass again like the 50 offering a faster service without going around the houses and shaving around 30 minutes off of the journey.

Aye the 50 is long like not sure there'd be much demand non stop though - possibly though.

The X2 was actually numbered for the other side of the route, just a complete fluke that the 2 exists in Sunderland. Just like having clean numbers and the X1/X2 both do Newcastle to Wrekenton rather than a random 25. My idea behind it was to try and get some Birtley people onto it aswell since it's quicker than the 21 aswell, like a mini Birtley express via the QE.

Don't disagree with sending that to Sunderland via the 81 route though to be fair but I do think the Wrekenton to Newcastle via Low Fell bit should be seperate. People from Birtley etc don't want to go on a magical tour of Gateshead imo with it running direct from Birtley to Wrekenton omitting the estate there aswell. Fixes the farce with the 82 to the QE aswell.

It's better than the 25 to CLS as no-one is going to CLS, so it will run empty since the vast majority of people wanting there will be on the more frequent 21 and who wants to go there anyway, it's crap.

Not sure on the X56 though, is there much demand for it? All the last attempts of it failed pretty badly.

(01 Dec 2024, 6:25 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote [ -> ]Whilst youre at it maybe sort out the 26, 27, 33, 35, 39/A/B, 51/52 57/58, 61 & R2.

For the 39 group, I'd just remove the 39B and have the:

39 between Doxford and Sunderland
39A between Doxford and Pennywell

It looks like GNE are hoping to win the Washington section back by keeping the 39B.

-------------------

I'd say the 33, 35 and the 61 are ok as they are.

(01 Dec 2024, 6:25 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote [ -> ]Whilst youre at it maybe sort out the 26, 27, 33, 35, 39/A/B, 51/52 57/58, 61 & R2.

Watch this Space.......the above services (excluding 27,51/2 ,7,8 & R2) are having a reshuffle in January

(02 Dec 2024, 8:02 pm)Retro Nero wrote [ -> ]Watch this Space.......the above services (excluding 27,51/2 ,7,8 & R2) are having a reshuffle in January

Interesting, I wonder how they'll wreak the routes?

Want to bet the 20 changes - you know after they've just relaunched the brand................ because GNE like doing stuff like that.

Hopefully the 39 is simplified, we could see the 2/2A split at the city centre

-------------

I wonder if these changes are to remove the last 3 Versa from Deptford.

I really don't know what changes they could do tbh

(02 Dec 2024, 8:22 pm)Michael wrote [ -> ]Interesting, I wonder how they'll wreak the routes?

Want to bet the 20 changes - you know after they've just relaunched the brand................ because GNE like doing stuff like that.

Hopefully the 39 is simplified, we could see the 2/2A split at the city centre

-------------

I wonder if these changes are to remove the last 3 Versa from Deptford.

I really don't know what changes they could do tbh

As I say.... watch this Space, but a little teaser...... a few renumbering services and splitting routes.

Hopefully someone has actually sense and renumbered things appropiately.

When you've got a corridor of buses which are the 2/2A/39/39A/60/61 things are really messed up and they all go to same places pretty much. Talk about making things confusing for no reason.

It's much easier for someone to remember the 38/39/40 like on the West Road or 43/44/45 like through Gosforth. Chester Road isn't any better either, nor the 35/56 between Sunderland and Southwick.

Credit it's one thing which did change under Arriva for the better, I believe when Featham was in charge, as the Northumbria network was all over the place numbering wise aswell.

(07 Dec 2024, 11:57 pm)logidoodah wrote [ -> ]Regarding GoNorthEast North Tyneside network (was butchered down to 4 services now includes the abandoned arriva services). This is how I would improve the North Tyneside Network *without mentioning or altering the coast road (otherwise it gets too repetitive and boring)

This would utilise all of GNEs services and incorporate secured services. This would also extend the 57/57a to improve connections...

1/1a - Frequency = Every 15 Mins combined | PVR=18 (Split between Riverside & Percy Main)
Winlaton | Blaydon | Metrocentre | Gateshead | Newcastle | Byker | Wallsend | Howdon | North Shields | Tynemouth | Marden | Whitley Bay
Winlaton | Shibdon Bank | Metrocentre | Gateshead | Newcastle | Byker | Wallsend | Howdon | North Shields | Tynemouth | Marden | Whitley Bay
*services 1 & 49/49A merged for many reasons (split depot running, no need for Xlines in Dunston sort out deckers issue and improved connections)

41/41A - Frequency = Every 30 Mins combined | PVR=5.5
Wallsend | Battle Hill | Hadrian Park | Howdon | Willington Quay | Royal Quays | North Shields | Preston | Whitley Bay (loop clockwise or opposite)
*41A merged with 317/W1/W2/351, provide lots of new connections, route not made for end-end travel provides better buses in Whitley Estates

42 - Frequency = Every 30 Mins | PVR=4.5
Wallsend | Battle Hill | Hadrian Pk | Cobalt & Silverlink | Northumberland Pk | Backworth | Seaton Delaval | Cramlington | East Hartford/Nelson Village
*41 merged with 19 to reinstate connection Wallsend - Cramlington, terminus alternates 1bph to East Hartford and 1bph to Nelson Vllage

341/342 - Frequency = Every 30 Mins combined | PVR=6
Wallsend | Forest Hall | Killingworth | Wideopen | Hazlerigg | Kingston Park | Newbiggin Hall | West Denton | Dumpling Hall | Blaydon
Wallsend | Longbenton | Killingworth | Wideopen | Dinnington | Kingston Pk | Newbiggin Hall | Chapel House | Throckley | Stella | Blaydon
*merged current 342 with old 42/42a to give better frequencies, no longer serving Dudley, and extends from Kingston Park to Blaydon for new links

353 - Frequency = Every 30 Mins combined | PVR=4.3
Morpeth | Bedlington | Cramlington | Killingworth | Forest Hall | Northumberland Pk | Cobalt & Silverlink | TTTE | Royal Quays | North Shields
*route replaces current 43 Cramlington-Morpeth, merging with 19 (missing out shiremoor) to better accommodate increased 355 freqs and faster journeys

354 - Frequency = Every 30 Mins combined | PVR=5.5
Newcastle | Four Lane Ends | Killingworth | Backworth | Shiremoor | Cobalt | New York | Chirton | North Shields
*route start swapped with 355 and via Killingworth Dr, route changes to 353 will stabilise this route

355
Newcastle | Gosforth | Longbenton | Forest Hall | Holystone | Shiremoor | South Wellfield | Monkseaton | Whitley Bay
*route start swapped with 354, now extended to Whitley Bay; route replaces 351 from Holystone-South Wellfield

356
Killingworth | Backworth | Shiremoor | Murton Village | NT General Hospital | Monkseaton | Whitley Bay
*route is current 359 & W1 merged, route altered to limit 354 duplication

57/57a
Ashington | Bedlington | Cramlington | Anntisford | Seghill | Holywell | Monkseaton | Whitley Bay | Marden | North Shields Ferry
Ashington | Stakeford | Bedlington | Cramlington | East Cramlington Hosp | Holywell | Monkseaton | Whitley Bay | Marden | North Shields Ferry
*route now combined every 30 mins to Bedlington , create more local connections and help with X21/X22 demand Bedlington - Ashington, now extended to North Shields Ferry to create new connections and improve services to Marden

I assume this is after franchising as the 43, 57 and 57a are commercial services?

Must say can't I agree with some of these though. It's creating a lot of dog leg routes for little benefit.

You'd be better creating some form of North Tyneside loop imo rather than very long routes going all over the place.

The 57/57a in an ideal world should be split at Cramlington aswell as the route is too long and extremely unreliable as a result. The vast majority of people don't want to cross over Cramlington. Same with the 43 from Morpeth to Cramlington imo.

Ideally you would have, using the 19.

R1: Cramlington - Dudley - Fern Drive - Seghill - Seaton Delaval - Monkseaton - Whitley Bay - 317 to North Shields Ferry

R2: Cramlington - High Pit - East Cram Hospital - Seaton Delaval - Seghill - Northumberland Park - Open doors after here

Both half hourly in the Seaton Valley area.

I had a think about what a competitor would do on GNE's Gateshead, South Tyneside, Washington & CLS routes.

3: Same as GNE 4 (Every 15 Mins)

3A: Heworth, Wardley, Usworth, Donwell, Concord, Washington then ? (Every 30 Mins)

3B: Heworth, Wardley, Usworth, Donwell, Concord, Washington, Biddick Woods, Shiney Row, Herrington Burn, East Herrington, Doxford International, Doxford Park, Ryhope, Castlereigh, Seaham (Every 30 Mins)

5: Sunderland to Coach Road Estate via Royal Hospital, Broadway, Hastings Hill, Barnwell, Fatfield, Harraton, Lambton, The Galleries, Oxclose, Blackfell, B&Q, Concord & Sulgrave (Every 30 Mins)

5A: Sunderland to Coach Road Estate via Royal Hospital, Broadway, Hastings Hill, Shiney Row, Fatfield, Biddick, The Galleries, Oxclose, Blackfell, London Avenue, Concord & Sulgrave (Every 30 Mins)

7: Sunderland to Stanley via Enterprise Park, Castletown, Waterview Park, Barmston, Barmston Court, Biddick, The Galleries, Lambton, Ayton, Harraton, Rickleton, Picktree, Chester-Le-Street, Pelton, Newfield, West Pelton, Beamish & East Stanley (Every 30 Mins)

7A: Sunderland to Metrocentre via Royal Hospital, Pallion, Waterview Park, Teal Farm, Barmston Court, Washington Village, The Galleries, Lambton, Ayton, Barley Mow, Portobello, Birtley & Team Valley (Every 30 Mins)

11: Newcastle to Blackhall Mill via Metrocentre, Blaydon, Ryton Village, Crawcrook, Greenside, Woodside, Folly, Rockwood Hill, High Spen & Chopwell (Every 30 Mins)

11A: Newcastle to High Spen via Scotswood Road, Blaydon, Stargate, Ryton, Woodside, Folly & Rockwood Hill (Every 30 Mins)

11B: Newcastle to Clara Vale via Metrocentre, Blaydon, Stargate, Ryton, Ryton Village & Crawcrook (Every 30 Mins)

19: Newcastle to Team Valley via Gateshead, Whitehall Road & Racecourse Estate (Every 30 Mins)

23: Same as 21 to Brandon (Every 30 Mins)

23A Newcastle to Witton Gilbert via Gateshead, Low Fell, Birtley, Chester-Le-Street, Plawsworth, Kimblesworth Nettlesworth & Sacriston (Every 30 Mins)

24: Newcastle to Durham via Gateshead, Low Fell, Harlow Green, Wrekenton, The Galleries, Lambton, Ayton, Chester-Le-Street, Plawsworth & Framwellgate Moor (Every 30 Mins)

24A: Newcastle to Low Moorsley via Gateshead, Low Fell, Harlow Green, Wrekenton, The Galleries, Biddick, Fatfield, Shiney Row, Success, Burnside Estate, Houghton-Le-Spring & Hetton-Le-Hole (Every 30 Mins)

26/26A: Newcastle to Newfield via Gateshead, Q.E Hospital, Wrekenton, Northside Estate (26A), Birtley, South Portobello, Barley Mow, North Lodge (26), Picktree (26A) Chester-Le-Street & Pelton Fell (Every 30 Mins, 1x 26 1x 26A)

27: Chester-Le-Street to Lanchester, Pelton Fell, Blackhouse, Holmside, Burnhope & Maiden Law (Hourly)

31: Newcastle to Winlaton via Dunston, Swalwell, Blaydon, Hazel Road, Hole-In-The-Wall & Parkhead Estate (Hourly)

31A: Newcastle to Winlaton via Dunston, Swalwell, Blaydon & Black Lane (Hourly)

32: Newcastle to Winalton via Scotswood Road, Blaydon, Hazel Road, Beech Terrace & Parkhead Estate (Every 30 Mins)

32A: Newcastle to Winalton via Scotswood Road, Blaydon, Heddon View, Tyne Street, Parkhead South, Snook Hill & Hannover Estate (Every 30 Mins)

33: Newcastle to Waldridge Park via Gateshead, Saltwell Park, Team Valley, Kibblesworth, Urpeth Grange, Pelton, Hilda Park & Chester-Le-Street (Every 30 Mins)

40: Newcastle to Stanley via Gateshead, Low Fell, Harlow Green, Birtley, Ouston, Pelton, High Hold, West Pelton, Grange Villa, Craghead & South Stanley (Every 30 Mins)

48/48A: Same as GNE 49/49A (Every 15 Mins)

55/55A: Gateshead, Felling, Heworth, Leam Lane, Springwell Estate, Wrekenton, Easedale Gardens, Q.E Hospital, Dryden Road, Gateshead (55 Clockwise, 55A Anti-Clockwise, Both Every 30 Mins)

59: Newcastle to Wardley Green via Gateshead, Deckham Broadway, Q.E Hospital, Felling Square, Felling, Heworth & Ellen Wilkinson Estate (Avoids Felling By Pass) (Every 30 Mins)

68: Newcastle to Hebburn via Gateshead, Deckham, Q.E Hospital, Felling Square, Felling, Heworth, Bill Quay & Woods Green (Every 30 Mins)

71: Same as GCT/DCC 71 (Hourly)

80: South Shields to Durham Chichester, Stanhope Road, Whiteleas, Boldon, Nissan Factory, Sulgrave, Concord, Washington, Glebe, Harraton, Rickleton, Picktree, Chester-Le-Street, Waldridge Park, Arnison Centre & Framwellgate Moor (Every 30 Mins)

86: Boldon to Hebburn via Whiteleas, Brockley Whins, Edinburgh Road, Low Simonside, Hill Park & Jarrow (Hourly)

87: Newcastle to South Shields via Gateshead, Q.E Hospital, Beacon Lough, Fewster Square, Heworth, Wardley, Fellgate, Kirkstone Avenue, Edinburgh Road, Simonside, Tyne Dock & Chichester (Every 15 Mins to Heworth, 30 to South Shields)

88: Lukes Lane to South Shields via Monkton Lane, Hebburn, Jarrow, York Avenue, Edinburgh Road, South Tyneside Hospital, Chichester & Westoe (Every 30 Mins)

89: Heworth to Horsley Hill via Monkton Lane, Lukes Lane, Jarrow, Tyne Dock, South Tyneside Hospital & Harton Nook (Every 30 Mins)

X5: Same as GNE X1 (Every 15 Mins)

X7/X8: Newcastle to Whickham via Dunston Bank (X7) or Lobley Hill (X8) (Every 15 Mins, 2x X7, 2x X8)

(24 Feb 2025, 10:16 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Really, the 353/53 has always been the strongest out of the former Arriva services, and should be re-instated to a 30 minute frequency.

Don't want to derail the other thread but using BSIP funds aswell I'd probably be tempted to mix it up rather than going to the past and doing something like:
[attachment=10927]

which would be:

342: Every 30 Minutes, Wallsend to Killingworth, Hourly to Kingston Park
353: Every 30 Minutes, North Shields to Killingworth, Hourly to Cramlington
354: Withdrawn
355: Every 30 Minutes, Newcastle to Forest Hall
356: Hourly, Newcastle to Whitley Bay via Marsden Village
357: Hourly, Newcastle to Whitley Bay via Westminister Avenue

It would make a good little network in North Tyneside imo with the rest of the network being the same. It's not too indifferent to now really. The 355 whenever I see it is doing well, so adding the 354 numbers into it - why not try and grow a corridor for once. Wallsend to Killingworth and Whitley Bay to Killingworth should be every 30 minutes regardless anyway - hourly services are useless.

What you do with 354 who knows, maybe extend the Stagecoach 6/7 to Killingworth and open links to Quorum from the West side of Newcastle without having to double back via Newcastle.

In response to my mention of the 350/351, a little idea and not too dissimilar to ideas by other members.

Effectively, the 350/351 become major services, with parts of the existing 307 being the standout secondary service along the Coast Road.

Note that an operator or interworking pattern hasn't been assigned to any services, but just a general idea more than anything.

300 (every 30 mins)
Newcastle - Coast Road - Wiltshire Drive - High Farm Mullen Road - Battle Hill Drive - Hadrian Park - Middle Engine Lane - Verne Road - Meadowell - North Shields

307 (every 20 mins)
Newcastle - Coast Road - Battle Hill Drive - Willington Square - Silverlink - Verne Road - The Quadrant - Lansdowne Terrace - Hawkeys Lane - Queen Alexandra Road - North Shields - Tynemouth

308 (every 20 mins)
Newcastle - Coast Road - Willington Square - Silverlink - Billy Mill - North Tyneside Hospital - Marden Estate - Whitley Bay

309 (every 20 mins)
Same as now but omits High Farm

310 (every 60 mins)
Same as current 351 but omits Wiltshire Drive

311 (every 20/40 mins to Holystone Park or 60 mins to W.Bay)
Same as current 350 but omits Wiltshire Drive

* 307/308/309/310/311 form 5 minute service along the Coast Road as now

* 307/309 form 10 minute service along Battle Hill Drive

* Improved links on new 307 saving walks to the Coast Road for a suitable service or use of subways / crossings

* Improved service for Marden Estate with hospital link

* Improved service for Holystone Park and East Benton Rise, likely both new 310/311 would pick up decent loads on Station Road too. Most people who normally catch the 307/309 from the Noble's stop woulf likely use stops on Station Road instead. 300 picks up Wiltshire Drive and the parts of High Farm which aren't within easy walking distance to Station Road

* Reduced overbussing between NT Hospital and Blyth. Ridley Park could be picked up by another service.

* Possible enhancements to GNE's NT Rockets services and interworking patterns with service 300 (i.e half hourly 353).

(09 Mar 2025, 4:58 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]In response to my mention of the 350/351, a little idea and not too dissimilar to ideas by other members.

Effectively, the 350/351 become major services, with parts of the existing 307 being the standout secondary service along the Coast Road.

Note that an operator or interworking pattern hasn't been assigned to any services, but just a general idea more than anything.

300 (every 30 mins)
Newcastle - Coast Road - Wiltshire Drive - High Farm Mullen Road - Battle Hill Drive - Hadrian Park - Middle Engine Lane - Verne Road - Meadowell - North Shields

307 (every 20 mins)
Newcastle - Coast Road - Battle Hill Drive - Willington Square - Silverlink - Verne Road - The Quadrant - Lansdowne Terrace - Hawkeys Lane - Queen Alexandra Road - North Shields - Tynemouth

308 (every 20 mins)
Newcastle - Coast Road - Willington Square - Silverlink - Billy Mill - North Tyneside Hospital - Marden Estate - Whitley Bay

309 (every 20 mins)
Same as now but omits High Farm

310 (every 60 mins)
Same as current 351 but omits Wiltshire Drive

311 (every 20/40 mins to Holystone Park or 60 mins to W.Bay)
Same as current 350 but omits Wiltshire Drive

* 307/308/309/310/311 form 5 minute service along the Coast Road as now

* 307/309 form 10 minute service along Battle Hill Drive

* Improved links on new 307 saving walks to the Coast Road for a suitable service or use of subways / crossings

* Improved service for Marden Estate with hospital link

* Improved service for Holystone Park and East Benton Rise, likely both new 310/311 would pick up decent loads on Station Road too. Most people who normally catch the 307/309 from the Noble's stop woulf likely use stops on Station Road instead. 300 picks up Wiltshire Drive and the parts of High Farm which aren't within easy walking distance to Station Road

* Reduced overbussing between NT Hospital and Blyth. Ridley Park could be picked up by another service.

* Possible enhancements to GNE's NT Rockets services and interworking patterns with service 300 (i.e half hourly 353).

Not sure High Farm going from every 10 minutes to every half hour is a good idea - atm it’s a turn up and go service and quite well used.

(10 Mar 2025, 9:39 am)RMF1254 wrote [ -> ]Not sure High Farm going from every 10 minutes to every half hour is a good idea - atm it’s a turn up and go service and quite well used.

It's only Noble's shop & Station Road where the big hits of passengers get on the 307/309.

A revised 350/351 (renumbered 310/311) would be quite strong commercially picking up most of the passengers on a 20 minute frequency (with Station Road stops only around the corner from Noble's effectively), with the 300 picking up the other bits including Wiltshire Drive. The 350/351 (310/311) ditching Wiltshire Drive could also offer a better incentive for passengers in areas where car use is likely to be higher too, with effectively both routes albeit with stops following the exact same route as driven with a car especially from Holystone Park and East Benton Rise.

(09 Mar 2025, 4:58 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]In response to my mention of the 350/351, a little idea and not too dissimilar to ideas by other members.

After seeing the 355 in recent times (quite well loadings tbh). Personally nowadays I'd be tempted to pull the 350/351 off the Coast Road and merge it with the 355/356 so you'd end up with 2, 30 minute bus services running like this:
[attachment=10934]

It'd be a better use of resources for the Newcastle links. The other stuff can be done with the 342/353 as posted above this post and gets them off the Coast Road doing nothing.

If there was ever nightbuses, I'd say do a similar route for it, such as this, which duplicates the busy yellow line pretty much:
[attachment=10935]

I'd like to see some changes to the Voltra 53/54 as with current developments across the route such as Pilgrim Street, High Level Bridge & Gateshead College area coinciding with peak time traffic massively impacts reliability to operate a circular service as it is at the moment.

I often see buses running in 2's and at peak times the vehicle allocation is not at all suitable as these EV Midi Buses are like a can of tinned sardines, so firstly I think if left in it's current guise the service needs Double Deckers or a frequency increase with the spares used on H Shuttle/49's being re-introduced or you kill two birds with one stone and make a route amendment as shown below under a singular route number in both directions.

53 - Gateshead Interchange - Coatsworth Road - Saltwell Park - Saltwell Road - Bensham Court - Central Station - Newcastle City Centre

The current 53/54 uses x6 Buses split into 3 on each service providing a frequency of Every 15 Minutes in each direction, under the new guise using the same number of Buses the frequency would be increased Every 10 Minutes which would be a lot better for the residents of Bensham/Saltwell with the benefit of a more frequent reliable service over operating to a minimum service level with poor reliability and buses being packed, loadings would be more evening spread thus not needing the requirement of Double Deckers.

In regards to Gateshead-Gateshead/Newcastle Quays - Newcastle I do feel this section should be reverted to how it was a few years ago as the Q1 and perhaps have it extend around Newcastle City Centre to provide more of a hopper style service and better connectivity to the local sights/tourism during the times where the Toon Tour does not operate, would even suggest extending Toon Tour to Gateshead Interchange and it return to Central Station via Askew Road/Redheugh Bridge.

There’s absolutely no way you’d want to subject tourists to Gateshead Interchange. Since the flyover closure the traffic is fairly bad around there. Toon Tour is fine as it, extending north towards the Town Moor via the universities and back via great north road would make sense.

Not sure there is demand to return the Quaylink to its old guise

Personally I'd rather see the 53/54 pulled out the Quayside and a new BSIP/NE1 funded free bus created doing something like:

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/54.96149...?entry=ttu

There's tonnes of hotels and destinations on that route which really need better connectivity and I think having a free bus, advertised well, would do quite well, especially for tourists. It also links other key points like outside the Laing and Central for coaches/trains, Haymarket down to Central and so on. The route would serve Haymarket before and after the loop.

The RVI, in particular, has terrible connections to the city centre currently imo.

More of a Question than a suggestion, why does the 1 only stop at Shields Bus Station when its bound for Whitley Bay, surely it would benefit stopping on the way to the Metrocentre also

(08 May 2025, 8:16 pm)V514DFT wrote [ -> ]More of a Question than a suggestion, why does the 1 only stop at Shields Bus Station when its bound for Whitley Bay, surely it would benefit stopping on the way to the Metrocentre also

Apparently sending it into hub towards Metrocentre would add another bus

Here is an "out there" idea.
Extend the V5 (minus templetown, due to timing constraints) to Newcastle via Rowlands Gill, Winlaton Mill, Swalwell & Scotswood Road. (Obviously you would have to double back through Medomsley and onto the B6310) .
If you ran it half-hourly you could have standalone with a PVR of 5,

Here are few new ideas.
I have also created professional styles timetable for this one, the pdf colours would make up the buses livery.

Raspberry R1/R2: Woodside Gardens to Team Valley South Bus Station via Ryton Co-Op, Cushy Cow Lane, A695, Blaydon, Metrocentre ASDA & Bus Station, Wellington Road, Knightside Gardens, Malvern & Chiltern Gardens (R1), Cragside & Rothbury Gardens (R2), Kingsway North & Retail World. (Don't have a pdf for this yet!)

Raspberry R7: Ryton Co-Op to Wrekenton High Street via Holborn Lane, Stargate Lane, A695, Blaydon, Swalwell, Market Lane, Dunston, Bolam Street, Saltwell Road, Belle Vue Bank, Kells Lane, Q.E Hospital and Old Durham Road

Connexions X13: Langley Park to Durham via Kaysburn, Witton Gilbert, A691, Framwellgate Moor, University Hospital & North Road

B1: Northside Estate to Vigo Estate via Blackfell Way, Durham Road, Harras Bank, Birtley Lane, Portobello Road, Dunvegan, Dorset Avenue, Norfolk Avenue, Bedford Avenue & Vigo Lane (Buses would terminate at Picktree Lodge)

(26 May 2025, 2:09 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote [ -> ]Here are few new ideas.
I have also created professional styles timetable for this one, the pdf colours would make up the buses livery.

Raspberry R1/R2: Woodside Gardens to Team Valley South Bus Station via Ryton Co-Op, Cushy Cow Lane, A695, Blaydon, Metrocentre ASDA & Bus Station, Wellington Road, Knightside Gardens, Malvern & Chiltern Gardens (R1), Cragside & Rothbury Gardens (R2), Kingsway North & Retail World. (Don't have a pdf for this yet!)

Raspberry R7: Ryton Co-Op to Wrekenton High Street via Holborn Lane, Stargate Lane, A695, Blaydon, Swalwell, Market Lane, Dunston, Bolam Street, Saltwell Road, Belle Vue Bank, Kells Lane, Q.E Hospital and Old Durham Road

Connexions X13: Langley Park to Durham via Kaysburn, Witton Gilbert, A691, Framwellgate Moor, University Hospital & North Road

B1: Northside Estate to Vigo Estate via Blackfell Way, Durham Road, Harras Bank, Birtley Lane, Portobello Road, Dunvegan, Dorset Avenue, Norfolk Avenue, Bedford Avenue & Vigo Lane (Buses would terminate at Picktree Lodge)

Timetable designs are absolutely stunning. Go North East should hire you to do them. Idea for routes are good as well

(26 May 2025, 6:30 pm)Aaron21 wrote [ -> ]Timetable designs are absolutely stunning. Go North East should hire you to do them. Idea for routes are good as well

Thank you,
Have you used Canva before, if not you should.

Just had a thought.

GNE's combined PVR from the X45 & 47 looks set to become 12x vehicles after the 20th July.

Given that the previous PVR of the 45/46/47 and V9 was 15x, would it not make sense for GNE to go back to this? The quality of service would massively improve too (as long as GNE had the vehicles).

Alternatively, GNE could even go.....but keeping the limited stop service between MetroCentre and Newcastle

- 45 (every 20/40 minutes) - Same as X45

- 46 (every 60 minutes) - Same as old 46/X46

- 47 (every 20 minutes) - Blackhall Mill River View to Newcastle

- V9 - Restored or maybe 10A extended to Consett in place?

Bar the differences of the 45/46 in Shotley Bridge and Bridgehill, a nice clean 20 minute service from Consett and a nice clean 20 minute service from Blackhall Mill, eliminating the historical need for deckers.

Which brings me onto the next bit. Depending on whether the range would be sufficient, GNE could even grow the Red Kite Ranger brand and maybe with support look to electrify the 45/46/47 as one of their flagship services.

Seen someone mention the 83A and on it's own probably doesn't make sense but there's definitely scope for better links to Heworth imo. and came up with:
[attachment=10985]

I understand it would be a fair increase in PVR, but it hasn't changed other areas getting similar improvements aka 19/335/350/351

It would open loads of new links and the two routes combined in the Birtley area would give a 30 minute headway on the most important section.

Don't see why it couldn't work as there's enough points to get people using it ie.
Birtley - Wrekenton - QE - Felling - Heworth - Leam Lane - Follingsby - Usworth - Concord - Peel Retail Park - Washington Village - Washington Galleries - Birtley ...

The current 82 already does most the route anyway.

(08 Jun 2025, 9:30 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]Seen someone mention the 83A and on it's own probably doesn't make sense but there's definitely scope for better links to Heworth imo. and came up with:

I understand it would be a fair increase in PVR, but it hasn't changed other areas getting similar improvements aka 19/335/350/351

It would open loads of new links and the two routes combined in the Birtley area would give a 30 minute headway on the most important section.

Don't see why it couldn't work as there's enough points to get people using it ie.
Birtley - Wrekenton - QE - Felling - Heworth - Leam Lane - Follingsby - Usworth - Concord - Peel Retail Park - Washington Village - Washington Galleries - Birtley ...

The current 82 already does most the route anyway.

I wonder if this only happened because Go North East are operating the 317 and 342 on a mostly commercial basis so the funding could be moved onto the 350/351 etc.?

ASX_Terranova

Storx

Storx

Malarkey

Storx

Michael

Retro Nero

Michael

Retro Nero

Storx

logidoodah

Storx

ASX_Terranova

Storx

L469 YVK

RMF1254

L469 YVK

Storx

Malarkey

Ambassador

Storx

V514DFT

Aaron21

ASX_Terranova

ASX_Terranova

Aaron21

ASX_Terranova

L469 YVK

Storx

NEtransport