North East Buses

(18 Sep 2025, 10:07 pm)Andreos1 wrote [ -> ]Needed to get from the Tynemouth area to Cobalt not too long ago. 
Couple of mins in an uber. 

Nothing under 30mins on public transport. Some options took the best part of an hour.

Surely it's not beyond the wit of man or beast to realise that places like Cobalt, Quorum etc have decent traffic flows. Particularly during peak. Yet are seemingly ignored. Or, have buses going to and from the same places.

Easy fix would be to extend the 341 from Hadrian Park via Cobalt, Silverlink, Percy Main, Royal Quays and North Shields and have it replace the 301 between North Shields and Whitley Bay.

When Cobalt was expanding and developing, GNE missed a trick with the 325/326 in my opinion. I know it was down to complete a through loop in an hour so don't know how the timings would work. but something should've been done to incorporate it into Cobalt after Norham Road North before heading back into New York or towards North Shields.

(19 Sep 2025, 7:10 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]When Cobalt was expanding and developing, GNE missed a trick with the 325/326 in my opinion. I know it was down to complete a through loop in an hour so don't know how the timings would work. but something should've been done to incorporate it into Cobalt after Norham Road North before heading back into New York or towards North Shields.

Not a suggestion but this would've been the obvious routing:
[attachment=11041]

It's ironically probably better than what people get now since everyone would get a direct Cobalt and Silverlink connection. The orange and red routes being the 309/311 (ignoring Hadrian Park) anyway bar them additionally doing Silverlink. Even more so if replaced the 301 between Whitley Bay and North Shields giving connections around North Tyneside and also from the Coast Road aswell since all their buses go the same way pretty much.

People wanting to go to Wallsend etc can interchange at the white elephant interchange in North Shields and a 15 minute service onto a 12 minute Metro is a well acceptable interchange.

BSIP funding or even Nexus Funding for 6-12 month

Works service 91 although it is a one journey wonder from Verne Road around 440am to Team Valley it is an interesting route which imo could be adapted into a service route and give great connections that are not actually present.

Hear me out... it fundamentally a works service with having Cobalt at one end and Team Valley at the other so early morning and rush hour is covered during the day you create meaningful links for residents aswell creating cross links between metro stations and open new links.

I would make it a 30 min service

instead of starting at Verne Road (maybe for the first service of the day to incorporate the route into an early morning route... but say a general service of

Northumberland Park Rail Hub - Cobalt - Hadrian Park- (Wiltshire Drive ) Down to Wallsend Metro over to Walkergate Metro- Walker bus terminal St Anthonys - Byker Metro and Byker Morrisons- then Monument /Market St Central Station Direct to Team Valley with a strong emphasis of driving around the Northside and then Southside not the central drag in a Anti or clockwise direction even possibly stopping at Sainsbury as a terminus ( so drivers can have a pee)

I do think it will have an interesting link and link many communities and businesses as well as shift workers etc

Open for debate (but Wiltshire Drive is negotiable )

(23 Sep 2025, 7:22 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote [ -> ]BSIP funding or even Nexus Funding for 6-12 month

Works service 91 although it is a one journey wonder from Verne Road around 440am to Team Valley it is an interesting route which imo could be adapted into a service route and give great connections that are not actually present.

Hear me out... it fundamentally a works service with having Cobalt at one end and Team Valley at the other so early morning and rush hour is covered during the day you create meaningful links for residents aswell creating cross links between metro stations and open new links.

I would make it a 30 min service

instead of starting at Verne Road  (maybe for the first service of the day  to incorporate the route into an early morning route... but say a general service of

Northumberland Park  Rail Hub - Cobalt  - Hadrian Park-  (Wiltshire Drive )  Down to Wallsend Metro  over to Walkergate Metro-  Walker bus terminal  St Anthonys - Byker Metro and Byker  Morrisons- then Monument /Market St  Central Station  Direct to Team Valley with a strong emphasis of driving around the Northside and then Southside  not the central drag in a Anti or clockwise direction  even possibly stopping at Sainsbury as a terminus ( so drivers can have a pee)

I do think it will have an interesting link and link many communities and businesses as well as shift workers etc

Open for debate (but Wiltshire Drive is negotiable )

Tbh, im surprised GNE have never tried sending the Q3 (why its still Q3 is anyones guess when theres no Q1/Q2 anymore) upto the Cobalt/Northumberland Park, your 91 would also reinstate the bottom of Norham Road with a service, a service which has been gone for a number of years now, it would also be another option incase theres any issues on the 301 and the Metro (it has happened before)

(23 Sep 2025, 7:22 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote [ -> ]BSIP funding or even Nexus Funding for 6-12 month

Works service 91 although it is a one journey wonder from Verne Road around 440am to Team Valley it is an interesting route which imo could be adapted into a service route and give great connections that are not actually present.

Hear me out... it fundamentally a works service with having Cobalt at one end and Team Valley at the other so early morning and rush hour is covered during the day you create meaningful links for residents aswell creating cross links between metro stations and open new links.

I would make it a 30 min service

instead of starting at Verne Road  (maybe for the first service of the day  to incorporate the route into an early morning route... but say a general service of

Northumberland Park  Rail Hub - Cobalt  - Hadrian Park-  (Wiltshire Drive )  Down to Wallsend Metro  over to Walkergate Metro-  Walker bus terminal  St Anthonys - Byker Metro and Byker  Morrisons- then Monument /Market St  Central Station  Direct to Team Valley with a strong emphasis of driving around the Northside and then Southside  not the central drag in a Anti or clockwise direction  even possibly stopping at Sainsbury as a terminus ( so drivers can have a pee)

I do think it will have an interesting link and link many communities and businesses as well as shift workers etc

Open for debate (but Wiltshire Drive is negotiable )

It's an interesting idea but I'm not sure. It duplicates the 12/18/22/Q3 depending on which bit is so unsure you'll pick people many up. 

I respect that you'd reduce the Northumberland Park links (you could double back by it but unsure whether it's worth it) but personally I'd go further and try and create some loop at the Eastern side, something like this:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/54.97090...?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDkyMS4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

At the same time, the 350/351 being curtailed at Northumberland Park. The other side of the loop is the old Arriva 337 pretty much and would open up links for Marden to anywhere bar Tynemouth / Whitley Bay with loads of new connections to Cobalt which don't exist and Silverlink which is difficult to get to, unless you live on the 308 route. 

The 350/351 currently are pretty much dead East of Northumberland Park, so why not try something different?

Was just thinking of some services that could do with some adjustments & some of these would help to increase frequencys, offer new links & also reduce driver changeovers having to be completed by company cars & vans.

6 - Journeys between Stanley and Lanchester will be transferred to service 29.

8 - This service will additionally serve Pelaw Square, Perkinsville, Ouston & Urpeth. However, the service will no longer operate to Beamish or Stanley, with this link available on service 8A or by changing buses with services 28/29 at intermediate stops.

Frequency:
Every 30 minutes (Mon - Sat Daytimes)
Every 60 minutes (Evenings & Sundays)

8A - New daily hourly service that will create new links, but also maintain current connections, this including the reintroduction of a frequent, direct bus to Waterview Park from Chester Road.

(Sunderland | Chester Road | Hastings Hill | A1231 | Teal Farm | Waterview Park | A1231 Peel | Washington Galleries | Biddick | Fatfield | Picktree Village | Chester-le-Street | Pelton | Grange Villa | Beamish Museum | No Place | Stanley)

Frequency:
Every 60 minutes Daily (Evening journeys will only operate between Chester-le-Street and Stanley, with connections to services 8, 28, 50/X50 & 78 for onward travel to Washington or Sunderland.

22 - Service extended to Durham via Waldridge Park & Framwellgate Moor, combining with service X50, allowing for the continuation of two buses per hour on this section of route.

Frequency:
Every 60 minutes (Mon - Sat Daytimes)

25/25A - Service withdrawn. Replaced by service 50 between South Shields & Boldon, and by service 35/36 between Boldon and Jarrow.

28 - Journeys that start/finish at Chester-le-Street will be extended to Washington Galleries, operating directly via the A1, calling only at Ayton & Lambton.

This extension will help ensure there continues to be two buses per hour between Washington Galleries & Beamish Museum, whilst also offering more faster buses between Washington & Chester-le-Street.

Frequency:
Every 60 minutes (Mon - Sat Daytimes)

29 - Service extended to Stanley from Beamish & then onto Lanchester, replacing service 6. The extension to Stanley will help to introduce new bus links, but also ensures there continues to be two buses per hour between Stanley and Beamish Museum during Mon - Sat Daytimes. This service will no longer operate to Chester-le-Street, with this link available on service 8A & 28.

Frequency:
Every 60 minutes (Mon - Sat Daytimes)

34 - Service fully withdrawn & replaced by service 8 on the Ouston section & service 50 on the Waldridge Park section.

35 - Evening & Sunday journeys on service 35 will be renumbered 35A & will run through to Fellgate Estate after Boldon replacing service 25, then continue onwards to Heworth, providing alternative transport during the periods when service 558 is not operating.

36 - Service will be revised to no longer operate to Hebburn or Lukes Lane & will instead serve Fellgate Estate, then operate to Jarrow. The service will continue to serve Cotswold Estate in Boldon.

50 - Service will be revised to only operate between South Shields and Waldridge Park Estate, with journeys to Durham transferred to services 22 & X50. whilst the Marsden trips will be withdrawn.

This service will also serve Westoe, Whiteleas & South Tyneside Hospital for all journeys, replacing service 25.

Frequency:
Every 30 minutes (Mon - Sat Daytimes)
Every 60 minutes (Evenings & Sundays)

X50 - New service that will offer faster links between key stops. This service will call at Boldon Cinema & Business Park, opposed to North Road. Between Washington and Chester-le-Street, the service will only call at Lambton & Ayton.

(South Shields | Chichester | Stanhope Road | Galsworthy Road | Boldon Asda | Boldon Cinema & Business Park | Nissan Factory | Sulgrave | Concord | Washington Galleries | Lambton | Ayton | Chester-le-Street | Waldridge Park | Pity Me | Framwellgate Moor | Durham)

Frequency - (Every 60 minutes daily) This service will not operate at evenings, with service 50 covering most sections of route between South Shields and Waldridge Park.

The journey time between South Shields and Durham is estimated to be up to 85 minutes.

81 - With the introduction of two buses per hour on a Sunday Daytime on services 8/8A to Sunderland, therefore this service will no longer be required to operate between Waterview Park and Sunderland, with all journeys curtailed at Waterview Park.

The major improvements with services 8/50, will see three buses per hour along common sections of each route, with faster alternatives also available between key points (I.e. Washington to Chester-le-Street) - This also being done to make services more attractive to use, whilst making best use of the resources available.

Proposed PVR for each service, providing each service runs stand-alone:

8: PVR of 5 vehicles.
8A: PVR of 3 vehicles.
22: PVR of 3 vehicles.
28: PVR of 3 vehicles.
29: PVR of 4 vehicles.
50: PVR of 7 vehicles.
X50: PVR of 3 vehicles.

Tbh i've always thought theres wasted potential with the 14, both before and its upcoming return

(03 Oct 2025, 1:52 pm)S830OFT wrote [ -> ]Was just thinking of some services that could do with some adjustments & some of these would help to increase frequencys, offer new links & also reduce driver changeovers having to be completed by company cars & vans.

6 - Journeys between Stanley and Lanchester will be transferred to service 29.

8 - This service will additionally serve Pelaw Square, Perkinsville, Ouston & Urpeth. However, the service will no longer operate to Beamish or Stanley, with this link available on service 8A or by changing buses with services 28/29 at intermediate stops.

Frequency:
Every 30 minutes (Mon - Sat Daytimes)
Every 60 minutes (Evenings & Sundays)

8A - New daily hourly service that will create new links, but also maintain current connections, this including the reintroduction of a frequent, direct bus to Waterview Park from Chester Road.

(Sunderland | Chester Road | Hastings Hill | A1231 | Teal Farm | Waterview Park | A1231 Peel | Washington Galleries | Biddick | Fatfield | Picktree Village | Chester-le-Street | Pelton | Grange Villa | Beamish Museum | No Place | Stanley)

Frequency:
Every 60 minutes Daily (Evening journeys will only operate between Chester-le-Street and Stanley, with connections to services 8, 28, 50/X50 & 78 for onward travel to Washington or Sunderland.

22 - Service extended to Durham via Waldridge Park & Framwellgate Moor, combining with service X50, allowing for the continuation of two buses per hour on this section of route.

Frequency:
Every 60 minutes (Mon - Sat Daytimes)

25/25A - Service withdrawn. Replaced by service 50 between South Shields & Boldon, and by service 35/36 between Boldon and Jarrow.

28 - Journeys that start/finish at Chester-le-Street will be extended to Washington Galleries, operating directly via the A1, calling only at Ayton & Lambton.

This extension will help ensure there continues to be two buses per hour between Washington Galleries & Beamish Museum, whilst also offering more faster buses between Washington & Chester-le-Street.

Frequency:
Every 60 minutes (Mon - Sat Daytimes)

29 - Service extended to Stanley from Beamish & then onto Lanchester, replacing service 6. The extension to Stanley will help to introduce new bus links, but also ensures there continues to be two buses per hour between Stanley and Beamish Museum during Mon - Sat Daytimes. This service will no longer operate to Chester-le-Street, with this link available on service 8A & 28.

Frequency:
Every 60 minutes (Mon - Sat Daytimes)

34 - Service fully withdrawn & replaced by service 8 on the Ouston section & service 50 on the Waldridge Park section.

35 - Evening & Sunday journeys on service 35 will be renumbered 35A & will run through to Fellgate Estate after Boldon replacing service 25, then continue onwards to Heworth, providing alternative transport during the periods when service 558 is not operating.

36 - Service will be revised to no longer operate to Hebburn or Lukes Lane & will instead serve Fellgate Estate, then operate to Jarrow. The service will continue to serve Cotswold Estate in Boldon.

50 - Service will be revised to only operate between South Shields and Waldridge Park Estate, with journeys to Durham transferred to services 22 & X50. whilst the Marsden trips will be withdrawn.

This service will also serve Westoe, Whiteleas & South Tyneside Hospital for all journeys, replacing service 25.

Frequency:
Every 30 minutes (Mon - Sat Daytimes)
Every 60 minutes (Evenings & Sundays)

X50 - New service that will offer faster links between key stops. This service will call at Boldon Cinema & Business Park, opposed to North Road. Between Washington and Chester-le-Street, the service will only call at Lambton & Ayton.

(South Shields | Chichester | Stanhope Road | Galsworthy Road | Boldon Asda | Boldon Cinema & Business Park | Nissan Factory | Sulgrave | Concord | Washington Galleries | Lambton | Ayton | Chester-le-Street | Waldridge Park | Pity Me | Framwellgate Moor | Durham)

Frequency - (Every 60 minutes daily) This service will not operate at evenings, with service 50 covering most sections of route between South Shields and Waldridge Park.

The journey time between South Shields and Durham is estimated to be up to 85 minutes.

81 - With the introduction of two buses per hour on a Sunday Daytime on services 8/8A to Sunderland, therefore this service will no longer be required to operate between Waterview Park and Sunderland, with all journeys curtailed at Waterview Park.

The major improvements with services 8/50, will see three buses per hour along common sections of each route, with faster alternatives also available between key points (I.e. Washington to Chester-le-Street) - This also being done to make services more attractive to use, whilst making best use of the resources available.

Proposed PVR for each service, providing each service runs stand-alone:

8: PVR of 5 vehicles.
8A: PVR of 3 vehicles.
22: PVR of 3 vehicles.
28: PVR of 3 vehicles.
29: PVR of 4 vehicles.
50: PVR of 7 vehicles.
X50: PVR of 3 vehicles.

Not sure I agree with some of this personally, there's too many hourly services which are useless imo. Personally I'd rather have a frequent slightly slower service rather than an infrequent faster service as unless I can time things to the t for the bus in the first place those 10 minute savings are lost waiting 45 minutes for the bus in the first place. 

For Washington, personally I'd split the 8 at Washington in half then do:

X2: Newcastle - Sunderland
Newcastle - Gateshead - Express - QE - Express - Wrekenton - Birtley (Direct) - Portbello - Vigo Lane (East) - 8 Route to Sunderland omitting Teal Farm and only serving Waterview Park at Peak Times (covered by 8 other times)
(Every 30 Minutes Daytime / Hourly Evenings)

X3: Newcastle - Langley Park (Funded by BSIP from 21 money)
Newcastle - Gateshead - Express - QE - Express - Wrekenton - Birtley (Direct) - Chester Le Street - Waldridge Park - Langley Park (via 725 Route)
(Every 30 Minutes Daytime / Hourly Evenings)

X1/X2/X3: Every 7.5 Minutes from Newcastle to Wrekenton, for connections for those using the 51/51A/52/52A to Newcastle (see below)

21: Newcastle - Angel/CLS/Durham
No route changes
(Every 7.5 Minutes, Newcastle to Angel | Every 15 Minutes, Newcastle to CLS | Every 30 Minutes, Newcastle to Durham) - 

21/X2/X3: Every 7.5 Minutes from Newcastle to Birtley

51/51A/52/52A: Gateshead Loop
51/52: No Changes (Every 30 Minutes)
51A/52A: Deviate from the 51/52 at Beacon Lough Road and do the 22 route to Wrekenton, then omit Springwell Estate (Every 30 Minutes)
(Every 15 Minutes Combined Daytime, 30 Minutes Evenings)

7: Stanley - Jarrow
Stanley - Chester Le Street (as now) - 50 Route to Washington - 82 Route to Waterview Park - Nissan - Boldon - 25 Route to Jarrow
(Hourly All Day)

8: Stanley - South Shields
Stanley - Chester Le Street (as now) - 50 Route to Washington - 82 Route to Waterview Park - Nissan - Boldon - 25 Route to South Shields
(Hourly Daytimes, No Evening)

7/8: Every 30 Minutes, Stanley to Boldon
7/25/35: 3 BPH, Jarrow to Boldon
8/25/50: 4 BPH, Boldon to South Shields

50: Durham - South Shields
Same route as now, bar run the current 8 route from Washington to Chester Le Street giving a combined 4 BPH on the common section
(Every 30 Minutes Daytime, Hourly Evenings)

28/28B/29: Stanley - Newcastle
Same route as now bar heading to Stanley from Beamish and the 28 doing the 22 route from Birtley to Wrekenton to cover that section.
(Every 30 Minutes Combined, Hourly Evenings)

CL3: Team Valley Retail World - Chester Le Street
Team Valley Retail World - Kibblesworth - Lansbury Drive - 82 Route to Barley Mow - North Lodge - Chester Le Street
(Every Hour Daytimes, No Evening Service)

CL4: Quaking Houses - Chester Le Street
Quaking Houses - Stanley (via 30 route) - Wear Road (via 31 route) - Humber Hill - Beamish - Grange Villa - Pelton Fell - Chester Le Street
(Every Hour All Day)

Withdrawn: 22/30/31/81/82/82A/TB14/702/725/X1A

imo it would make a much cleaner set of services and remove an awful lot of duplicate services, services where going on a magical tour like on the 22, dealing with the 22/81/82/82A/8 mess with 2 clean services all day and merging lots of short subsidised services like the 30, 31 and 702 while creating a new Birtley to Newcastle express and Washington to Sunderland express plus an awful lot more major links, especially to Nissan.

It's basically what a lot of it does anyway bar split in two ie. (TB14/702/82), (30/31), (22/81/82/82A - the X2 being basically the 81 give or take). The main duplicates being the 21 and 22, 28 and 82, 8 and 81, 8 and 78, 8/34/78 and 28/29, 8 and 81] and also isn't a radical change for most unlike past changes and is more improvements of what already exists.

If you want to make a faster Durham to South Shields bus link, you'd be better merging the X20 and 24 somehow, and give direct SOL links from Durham at the same time rather than via the 50 route.

remove service 7 and remove service 8 already duplicate services within Tyne and wear

replace the numbers (this forum is good creating fictional new numbers for bus routes)

14 Langley Park- Heworth serving
Langley Park- A691- Durham- Framwellgate Moor- Arnison Centre- Kimblesworth- Plawsworth- Waldridge Park- Chester-Le-Street- South Pelaw- Pelton- Perkinsville- Urpeth- Birtley- Wrekenton- Q.E Hospital- Felling- Heworth
Interworking with the 22, frequency remains the same
22 Extended to Langley Park serving Chester Moor- Plawsworth- Nettlesworth- Sacriston- Witton Gilbert- Langley Park
Interworking with the 14
34- Withdrawn
50- revised to operate to/from Chester-Le-Street as follows
Waldridge Park- Chester Moor- Plawsworth- Nettlesworth- Sacriston- B6532- A167 direct to Arnison Centre picking up its route to Durham
To cover the loss of the 14 in Sacriston
Frequency unchanged

X-lines X72, X-lines X73
Newcastle to Stanley and Lanchester
via Metrocentre (X73), Whickham (X73), Gateshead (X72), Lobley Hill (X72), Tanfield Village (X73), Burnopfield (X72), Flint Hill, Dipton, Annfield Plain. Stanley, South Moor and Burnhope. 

• Service 6 Withdrawn between Stanley and Lanchester and replaced by X-Lines X72/X73 providing quicker connections to MetroCentre, Gateshead and Newcastle Every 30 Minutes Combined. 
  

6
Newcastle to Langley Park
via Metrocentre, Whickham, Watergate Estate, Sunniside, Flint Hill, Burnopfield, Tanfield Lea, Stanley, Craghead, Edmondsley, Sacriston and Witton Gilbert

• Revised route from Stanley offering New Connections from Langley Park to MetroCentre and Newcastle Every 30 Minutes
  

Durham Diamond 16, Durham Diamond 16A, Durham Diamond 16B
Durham to Consett
via University Hospital of North Durham, Sacriston, Craghead, South Stanley (16 & 16B) or South Moor (16A & 16B), Stanley, Annfield Plain, Flint Hill, Dipton and Leadgate

• Services terminate at Consett Bus Station
  
• Connections to Shotley Bridge Hospital provide by "SBH Shuttle Service"
  

**New Service**
SBH
Consett Bus Station to Shotley Bridge Hospital

• New Hospital Shuttle operates Every 30 Minutes
  

**New Service**

X47
Newcastle to Consett
via MetroCentre, Rowlands Gill, Hamsterley Mill, Medomesley and Number One

• New Hourly Express offering a combined frequency with Service X45 of Every 20 Minutes to MetroCentre and Newcastle. 
  

**New Service Red Kite Ranger 48**
Newcastle to Consett
via Metrocentre, Blaydon, Winlaton, Winlaton Mill, Rowlands Gill, Highfield, High Spen, Chopwell, Blackhall Mill, Hamsterley, The Dene, Medomsley and Leadgate

• New Service merges Service 47/V5 together offering a number of new connections on an Hourly Basis
  

Venture V1, Venture V2
Consett to Delves/Crookhall
via Delves Lane

• Additionally serve Templetown and Crookhall replacing Service V5.
  
• Revised Timetable to facilitate additional stops
  

(05 Oct 2025, 7:48 pm)Malarkey wrote [ -> ]X-lines X72, X-lines X73
Newcastle to Stanley and Lanchester
via Metrocentre (X73), Whickham (X73), Gateshead (X72), Lobley Hill (X72), Tanfield Village (X73), Burnopfield (X72), Flint Hill, Dipton, Annfield Plain. Stanley, South Moor and Burnhope. 

• Service 6 Withdrawn between Stanley and Lanchester and replaced by X-Lines X72/X73 providing quicker connections to MetroCentre, Gateshead and Newcastle Every 30 Minutes Combined. 
  

6
Newcastle to Langley Park
via Metrocentre, Whickham, Watergate Estate, Sunniside, Flint Hill, Burnopfield, Tanfield Lea, Stanley, Craghead, Edmondsley, Sacriston and Witton Gilbert

• Revised route from Stanley offering New Connections from Langley Park to MetroCentre and Newcastle Every 30 Minutes
  

Durham Diamond 16, Durham Diamond 16A, Durham Diamond 16B
Durham to Consett
via University Hospital of North Durham, Sacriston, Craghead, South Stanley (16 & 16B) or South Moor (16A & 16B), Stanley, Annfield Plain, Flint Hill, Dipton and Leadgate

• Services terminate at Consett Bus Station
  
• Connections to Shotley Bridge Hospital provide by "SBH Shuttle Service"
  

imo, if you wanted to do that sort of stuff I'd just resurrect the 43/44 and Diamond in full personally. They used to be absolutely packed whenever I used them to the Metrocentre and are much superior to the 50 versions which have come after imo with stuff like the X72/X73 just not existing, at all, especially since the Metrocentre locals which replaced them were binned off. 

There also should be an X97 (or whatever number) doing a Whickham express looping around the 301 loop so the X30/X31/X70/X71 can all go via Gateshead where people might want to be, not via Whickham where people don't want to be and I'd have it running every 20 minutes aswell, and really push it. 

From that you could resurrect the 97 and terminate it short at Gateshead interworking with the 96 every 15 minutes since the 43/44/X97 would be creating the Newcastle links in Whickham instead, creating less duplication which there is right now. Could even maybe make them into a loop possibly with the 96/97 running through the Metrocentre opening new links. 

It's all pretty much PVR neutral last time I checked, all this stuff, even possibly less if you binned off the X32 - maybe could do an hourly proper express from Newcastle to Stanley running direct after Lobley Hill via the A184/Redheugh Bridge.

Personally I'd rather have a 30 minute service which takes 10 minutes longer than an hourly service which is completely useless for most people.

(05 Oct 2025, 9:40 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]imo, if you wanted to do that sort of stuff I'd just resurrect the 43/44 and Diamond in full personally. They used to be absolutely packed whenever I used them to the Metrocentre and are much superior to the 50 versions which have come after imo with stuff like the X72/X73 just not existing, at all, especially since the Metrocentre locals which replaced them were binned off. 

There also should be an X97 (or whatever number) doing a Whickham express looping around the 301 loop so the X30/X31/X70/X71 can all go via Gateshead where people might want to be, not via Whickham where people don't want to be and I'd have it running every 20 minutes aswell, and really push it. 

From that you could resurrect the 97 and terminate it short at Gateshead interworking with the 96 every 15 minutes since the 43/44/X97 would be creating the Newcastle links in Whickham instead, creating less duplication which there is right now. Could even maybe make them into a loop possibly with the 96/97 running through the Metrocentre opening new links. 

It's all pretty much PVR neutral last time I checked, all this stuff, even possibly less if you binned off the X32 - maybe could do an hourly proper express from Newcastle to Stanley running direct after Lobley Hill via the A184/Redheugh Bridge.

Personally I'd rather have a 30 minute service which takes 10 minutes longer than an hourly service which is completely useless for most people.

IMO, with all the changes and upscaling of frequencies, GNE aren't really behind where they were in terms of PVR before 2015 and 2021.

Now GNE's current MD whilst not keeping everyone happy, did simplify things in Northumberland & Tyneside. If GNE did the same in Derwentside and really pushed with with simple, easy to use and useful services, it could actually be quite a profitable network with growth.

Like in Bedlington for instance, there was one service stopping on Glebe Bank and the other stopping on the Front Street running at completely different frequencies. And Blyth and the myriad of different 'X' and 'EX' variations. Other than some tweaks (some actually very useful) and a loss of the 50's when Jesmond closed, there hasn't been much change to Arriva's network since 2012 when things were simplified.

(05 Oct 2025, 10:08 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]IMO, with all the changes and upscaling of frequencies, GNE aren't really behind where they were in terms of PVR before 2015 and 2021.

Now GNE's current MD whilst not keeping everyone happy, did simplify things in Northumberland & Tyneside. If GNE did the same in Derwentside and really pushed with with simple, easy to use and useful services, it could actually be quite a profitable network with growth.

Like in Bedlington for instance, there was one service stopping on Glebe Bank and the other stopping on the Front Street running at completely different frequencies. And Blyth and the myriad of different 'X' and 'EX' variations. Other than some tweaks (some actually very useful) and a loss of the 50's when Jesmond closed, there hasn't been much change to Arriva's network since 2012 when things were simplified.

Yeah agreed, imo they need to work on a way to get an, at least, 30 minute service between each of the main places rather than loads of hourly services.

Hourly services are completely useless, I'd much rather have a 30 minute service going round the world than a hourly service, still kind of going around with the world with an X at the front.

I won't make suggestions for the exact routes but they imo need to have an at least 30 minute service for these towns with these routes:
45/47: Consett / Rowlands Gill to Metrocentre and Newcastle
X70/X71: Consett / Burnopfield / Leadgate to Gateshead and Newcastle
X30/X31: Stanley to Gateshead and Newcastle
43/44: Annfield Plain / Stanley / Burnopfield / Dipton / Sunniside / Tanfield Lea to Metrocentre and Newcastle

How you serve all the villages inbetween, is open for answers as most probably aren't big enough to warrant an express so other than Meadomsley (impossible to send anything else up there), should be linked to Newcastle with the 43/44 service.

Ironically this was literally the network before they started pissing around with it. 

The X30/X31/X32/X70/X71/X72/X73 nonsense is as much as a mess as the 25/81/82/82A mess around Birtley and Eighton Banks imo and as bad as the EX/X nonsense Blyth used to have as you mentioned above.

I never got why the 45/46/47 needed to become part of X-Lines, was it really needed?, but i do agree, Gateshead and Derwentside need a reset

(06 Oct 2025, 2:02 pm)V514DFT wrote [ -> ]I never got why the 45/46/47 needed to become part of X-Lines, was it really needed?, but i do agree, Gateshead and Derwentside need a reset

I never really understood why X-Lines came in the first place. 

It replaced respected routes for years, in a company which had brands for specific routes, so people can tell what the bus is by the brand rather than the number, similar to the likes of TrentBarton. The Red Arrows and Red Kite, in particular, were much more superior brands.

Transdev has the right approach with the likes of Witchway, if we we're keeping brands, with it's SkyClass which was advertised instead.

I know someone will say it's because it's the quickest route from A to B, but they weren't, and either way how on earth is anyone meant to know that from 'X-Lines'...?

I would create a simplified service with a new ticket

The new ticket would be called the X lines Plus ticket...

It works similar to a transfare ticket however create an X line service say Stops Stanley Sunniside Tanfield Lea Metrocentre Newcastle

only stopping at certain stops. make it express /direct/ quick

There is another service that is longer and stops at every stop and goes off into villages etc... but with the ticket it means that passengers can get off and get on the express bus and vice verser.

It would be ambitious and useful if feeder buses stopped at the stop until the express service arrived and "swapped passengers"

Next stop announcement and tracking could be tweaked to say the next slower service is 3 Minutes behind this bus and this bus will arrive at Stanley 11mins quicker than service X

(06 Oct 2025, 3:09 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]I never really understood why X-Lines came in the first place. 

It replaced respected routes for years, in a company which had brands for specific routes, so people can tell what the bus is by the brand rather than the number, similar to the likes of TrentBarton. The Red Arrows and Red Kite, in particular, were much more superior brands.

Transdev has the right approach with the likes of Witchway, if we we're keeping brands, with it's SkyClass which was advertised instead.

I know someone will say it's because it's the quickest route from A to B, but they weren't, and either way how on earth is anyone meant to know that from 'X-Lines'...?

Cant disagree tbh, X-Lines as a brand wasn't really needed, a case of someone being board in the office perhaps?

(06 Oct 2025, 6:18 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote [ -> ]I would create  a simplified service with a new ticket

The new ticket would be called the X lines Plus ticket...

It works similar to a transfare ticket however  create an X line service say Stops Stanley  Sunniside  Tanfield Lea Metrocentre Newcastle

only stopping at certain stops. make it express /direct/ quick

There is another service that is longer and stops at every stop and goes off into villages etc... but with the ticket it means that passengers can get off and get on the  express bus and vice verser.

It would be ambitious and useful if feeder buses stopped at the stop until the express service arrived and "swapped passengers"

Next stop announcement and tracking could be tweaked to say the next slower service is 3 Minutes behind this bus  and this bus will arrive at Stanley 11mins quicker than service X

Even known it's an interesting idea, I'm not really sure it's needed.

Like just picking out routes you could easily do something like

43: X73 Route, but flip it with the 6 between Tantobie Crossroads and the Pack Horse giving Burnopfield a much faster route to Metrocentre / Newcastle (Every 30 Minutes, Hourly Evenings / Sunday)
44: Current 6 route, again flip it with the X73 between Tantobie Crossroads and the Pack Horse giving Stanley a faster Metrocentre link (Hourly All Day / Sunday)
44A: Same route as above, but via Hobson rather than Tanfield (Hourly Daytimes)

X30: Via Gateshead, otherwise no changes (Hourly Daytime)
X31: Via Gateshead, otherwise no changes (Hourly Daytime)
X32: Withdrawn
X70: Run direct between Dipton and Burnopfield, otherwise no changes (Hourly Daytime)
X71: Via Gateshead, otherwise no changes (Hourly Daytimes, Every 2 Hours Evening / Sunday)
X72: Withdrawn, replaced by 43/44
X73: Withdrawn, replaced by 43/44 

X40: Consett - Leadgate - Non Stop - Annfield Plain - Stanley - Non Stop - Sunniside - Lobley Hill - Non Stop (via A184) - Newcastle (Hourly All Day / Sunday) - Map of route

X301: Newcastle to Whickham via X30/X31/X71 route then do the 301 loop round Whickham (Every 20 Minutes, Hourly Evenings/Sunday)

It's not a million miles away from where things are now but the main towns would get the new X40 giving the fastest links between them and Newcastle with the main towns of Stanley and Consett supplemented with the X30/X31/X70/X71. 

All the villages are then covered by the new 43/44 which is basically just the 6/X73 anyway and everywhere has an evening service with the same route as their daily service which isn't the case right now.

or something simple like 340 341 serving (Wiltshire Drive and Hadrian Park ). link it with the Coast Road Corridor and remove the need for the 307 to visit Hadrian Park as an example

(06 Oct 2025, 7:57 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote [ -> ]or something simple like 340 341  serving (Wiltshire Drive and Hadrian Park ). link it with  the Coast Road Corridor and remove the need for the 307 to visit Hadrian Park as an example

Yeah not a bad shout really.

The Regent Centre is the sort of place which is crying out for something like that.

Do something like this:
[attachment=11052]

With them all running every 10/15 minutes, depending on the route. If you want to go to Gosforth or Newcastle, you do a quick hop to the Metro or the 20 buses that already run along Gosforth High Street with the hopper being included with the ticket for the other bus. 

At the same withdraw the 35, Q3, X46 and 49 North of Newcastle and that's the resources which are used to run these frequent little hoppers rather than having an infrequent service just duplicating other services and getting stuck in traffic aswell. 

I'm sure there's plenty other places where you could do the same; Northumberland Park for example.

see I still think a Tyne and Wear Superloop bus service would work under the similar remit as a trial perhaps it basically to make it easier it follows the metro route but stops at all stops on route towards a metro station.

To make it easier

SL1 St James - North Shields Via Wallsend
SL2 North Shields to Newcastle City Centre (but terminate at St James)
SL3 Airport - Newcastle City Centre (but terminate at St James)
SL4 (Start St James) Newcastle City Centre to Heworth
SL5 Heworth to South Shields
SL6 Heworth to South Hylton

Now if you think north of the tyne this would allow you to make little diversions on the route.

The whole purpose is to feed the metro system and to feed off it so for example people could get the metro to Four Lane Ends or South Gosforth jump on the SL (super loop service) which will go directly to the front door of the Freeman Hospital
little tweaks like this or certain services will pop via the HMRC on Whitley Road you could even make it so it does a quick loop round Cobalt before going to Northumberland Park

The aim is for this service to be slower but serve all the bis stops metro replacement misses but can add extra value

Metro reliability is going to be fantastic with new metros in a few years time

Although I have used North Shields as a changing hub
Heworth as a changing Hub meaning there is more flexibility for changing bus services to fit a drivers timetable etc...

Now although I said Newcastle City Centre and St James as a terminating point that is just as a visual for a metro map I would actually extend this to terminate at the RVI Accident and emergency area. The same would apply as it would allow flexibility to change SL routes to better fit with driving hours etc...

if each route operated a 20 min service and even 30 min on an evening it also has scope for an hourly service through the night say 0000-0600

This would also save money in the long run as Nexus secured services could be curtailed and force people back onto metro and superloop buses.

eg x46 Featherstone to Regent Centre and Great Park to Regent Centre creates a 30min round trip each ish feeding nexus secured services into the network.

removing unnecessary tax payer funded services on works services to HMRC buildings like the 69 service FLEnds to HMRC Benton

removal of 350 and 351 to Newcastle City Centre and link it to Northumberland Park to Wallsend

The W1 used as a feeder to Metro Stations it allows tax payer money to explore new areas to serve a route

In Killingworth 335 was removed from going over the level crossing to save time because the barrier sorry trains was using the crossing... this is a good example of pushing that money to give them a service even if it is FLE Quarom Killi loop and back a 30 min service allows it to do another 30min loop to somewhere else

nexus secured services should really be feeder services if the infrastructure is there.

look at the 350 or 351 on a evening and sunday 2 minutes behind or sometimes 1 minute it follows a 307 or 309 along the coast Road to Haymarket

it is a waste of our money.

(06 Oct 2025, 9:35 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote [ -> ]see I still think a Tyne and Wear Superloop bus service would work under the similar remit as a trial perhaps it basically to make it easier it follows the metro route but stops at all stops on route towards a metro station.

To make it easier

SL1  St James - North Shields Via Wallsend
SL2 North Shields to Newcastle City Centre (but terminate at St James)
SL3 Airport - Newcastle City Centre (but terminate at St James)
SL4 (Start St James) Newcastle City Centre to Heworth
SL5 Heworth to South Shields
SL6 Heworth to South Hylton

Now if you think north of the tyne this would allow you to make little diversions on the route.

The whole purpose is to feed the metro system and to feed off it so for example people could get the metro to Four Lane Ends or  South Gosforth  jump on the SL (super loop service) which will go directly to the front door of the Freeman Hospital
little tweaks like this or certain services will pop via  the HMRC on Whitley Road  you could even make it so it does a quick loop round Cobalt before going to Northumberland Park

The aim is for this service to be slower but serve all the bis stops metro replacement misses but can add extra value

Metro reliability is going to be fantastic with new metros in a few years time

Although I have used North Shields as a changing hub
Heworth as a changing Hub meaning there is more flexibility for changing bus services to fit a drivers timetable etc...

Now although I said Newcastle City Centre  and St James as a terminating point that is just as a visual for a metro map I would actually extend this to terminate at the RVI Accident and emergency area. The same would apply as it would allow flexibility to change SL routes to better fit with driving hours etc...

if each route operated a 20 min service and even 30 min on an evening it also has scope for an hourly service through the night say 0000-0600

This would also save money in the long run as Nexus secured services could be curtailed and force people back onto metro and superloop buses.

eg x46  Featherstone to Regent Centre  and Great Park to Regent Centre creates a 30min round trip  each ish feeding nexus secured services into the network.

removing unnecessary tax payer funded services on works services to HMRC buildings  like the 69 service FLEnds to HMRC Benton

removal of 350 and 351 to Newcastle City Centre and link it to Northumberland Park to Wallsend

The W1 used as a feeder to Metro Stations it allows tax payer money to explore new areas to serve a route

In Killingworth 335 was removed from going over the level crossing to save time because the barrier sorry trains was using the crossing... this is a good example of pushing that money to give them a service even if it is FLE Quarom Killi loop and back a 30 min service allows it to do another 30min loop to somewhere else

nexus secured services should really be feeder services if the infrastructure is there.

look at the 350 or 351 on a evening and sunday  2 minutes behind or sometimes 1 minute it follows a 307 or 309 along the coast Road to Haymarket

it is a waste of our money.

Honestly don't disagree with that, and fairness most of it kind of already exists to an extent ie:
301 is the SL1/part of the SL2
27 is the SL4/SL5
9 is partially the SL6

It's an interesting concept.

Btw since you mentioned the Coast Road, maybe you could look at making new bus hubs aswell in tactical places, like this bit of grass here would be ideal:
[attachment=11053]

If you curtailed the 350/351 short there, you could double the frequency by doing nothing, with other services like the 41/41A already existing, it would open up new connections. The added bonus being the 306/7/8/9 being so frequent it would be effectively just be the same as waiting in Haymarket for your bus since they're pretty much turn up and go anyway and effectively creating a new rapid transport line.

Extra bonus if you can create some form of Glider service like in Belfast along the Coast Road filling in the gaps where the Metro will never be, which I'm sure there's many other corridors which would also fit the criteria ie. 21/39/40/62/63 just quickly plucking some routes and that's Newcastle alone. Whether you use bendies or not, is open for discussion.

(06 Oct 2025, 10:22 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Honestly don't disagree with that, and fairness most of it kind of already exists to an extent ie:
301 is the SL1/part of the SL2
27 is the SL4/SL5
9 is partially the SL6

It's an interesting concept.

Btw since you mentioned the Coast Road, maybe you could look at making new bus hubs aswell in tactical places, like this bit of grass here would be ideal:


If you curtailed the 350/351 short there, you could double the frequency by doing nothing, with other services like the 41/41A already existing, it would open up new connections. The added bonus being the 306/7/8/9 being so frequent it would be effectively just be the same as waiting in Haymarket for your bus since they're pretty much turn up and go anyway and effectively creating a new rapid transport line.

Extra bonus if you can create some form of Glider service like in Belfast along the Coast Road filling in the gaps where the Metro will never be, which I'm sure there's many other corridors which would also fit the criteria ie. 21/39/40/62/63 just quickly plucking some routes and that's Newcastle alone. Whether you use bendies or not, is open for discussion.

creating a Bus interchange hub is an interesting idea but the location isn't suitable 

on a map looks fab 

but on the ground I don't think there is a big enough loop to create a circle  the problem is mainly that mini roundabout that is the problem. it dangerous normally 

It may be a cheaper option to force all buses onto chicken road stop at the bus stops either side and turn round the roundabout at noble shops it may only add a minute or 2 

the connection on the roundabout is pretty close  via zebra crossings 

if anything I would force all buses on coast road  306 307 308 309 straight down Station Road to Wallsend Metro and back out but it would take too long.  
I also find circular terminus style areas get abandoned over time so it is best if there is a supermarket to create a circle purpose point

(06 Oct 2025, 11:51 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote [ -> ]creating a Bus interchange hub is an interesting idea but the location isn't suitable 

on a map looks fab 

but on the ground I don't think there is a big enough loop to create a circle  the problem is mainly that mini roundabout that is the problem. it dangerous normally 

It may be a cheaper option to force all buses onto chicken road stop at the bus stops either side and turn round the roundabout at noble shops it may only add a minute or 2 

the connection on the roundabout is pretty close  via zebra crossings 

if anything I would force all buses on coast road  306 307 308 309 straight down Station Road to Wallsend Metro and back out but it would take too long.  
I also find circular terminus style areas get abandoned over time so it is best if there is a supermarket to create a circle purpose point

Yeah you're probably right given the space to be fair.

It's an awkward one as there really does need to be some form of hub in the middle somewhere, as we've got the current scenario where somewhere like Rake Lane has 6 buses an hour, but if you live a few streets across you've got nothing at all and no realistic route either without going 15 minutes in the wrong direction to then double back. Marden, in particular, is really bad for it but you at the same time can't have 20 buses along the Coast Road or slow down the 306-10 anymore as they're bad enough as it is, especially the 310. 

Who knows but no-one has seemed to crack it so far. Parts of Washington and Birtley is much of the same really and imo the new Metro extension isn't the solution for it either as it's going have the same issue of doubling back at the Birtley side of Washington - where it's generally the worst.

(07 Oct 2025, 12:06 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Yeah you're probably right given the space to be fair.

It's an awkward one as there really does need to be some form of hub in the middle somewhere, as we've got the current scenario where somewhere like Rake Lane has 6 buses an hour, but if you live a few streets across you've got nothing at all and no realistic route either without going 15 minutes in the wrong direction to then double back. Marden, in particular, is really bad for it but you at the same time can't have 20 buses along the Coast Road or slow down the 306-10 anymore as they're bad enough as it is, especially the 310. 

Who knows but no-one has seemed to crack it so far. Parts of Washington and Birtley is much of the same really and imo the new Metro extension isn't the solution for it either as it's going have the same issue of doubling back at the Birtley side of Washington - where it's generally the worst.

I've had a little think about it and to make it easier I will talk about current services...

306 - leave it alone in terms of route  (except force it to visit North Shields HUB/Metro station/Interchange) 

307 Haymarket to North Shields - limited stop  Newcastle Haymarket - 5 Swans - Civic Centre Direct to Corner House (connections for pub and Freeman football etc - chilli road stop (for chilli connections then direct to Station Road stop on ramp approach  remove the wills building stop to create a fast approach then all stops like the 306   through battlehill to jolly bowman pub  (307 - does not serve Mullen Road Loop or Hadrian Park ) 

307 then turns right at jolly Bowman  left onto Coast Road off at Silverlink up past McDonald's  but turns Right to behind the cinema and use the direct Road through the Tyne Tunnel trading estate to the bottom (providing job opportunities and a connection from Newcastle and residents nearby)  turn left  then left again and drive up past the Percy Main depot then right onto verne road to North Shields HUB 

A little different route but creates a little mix and the service is still covered by bus services nearby.

308 - create the Same Express route but to go via Battlehill Drive all stops in both directions and not the Coast Road stops (passengers often walk from coast road to battlehill drive and and users needing to use the subway they are used to it to access amenities so it's a very little impact as users use battlehill shops services anyway

309 Same idea as above omit going via Mullen Road to save time too

Now as Hadrian Park and and Mullen Road are bus less (ish ) 

340 -341 would operate a new service 

340 Wallsend up Wiltshire Drive  Mullen Road Battlehill Drive  Hadrian Park back out loop around the roundabout at BNQ to serve the bingo and Wallsend pub (future development here so locals will use the service) then down onto Coast Road and up silverlink into Cobalt and to Northumberland Park

341  Operates Newcastle Haymarket  to Chicken Road observing all stops  creating it a "slower service"  and hitting Wiltshire Drive  and Mullen Road  to Northumberland Park. 

350 351 is removed.

342 from Wallsend  will operate via Wiltshire drive  and run around holystone to provide a link.

351 if anything operates from Holystone to Northumberland park  hourly and ( 342 already providing a link too) 


There is no loss for the 350 or 351 being curtailed. 

For example the last bus leaves at Haymarket at 2325 but so does the 308 leaves the next stand at 2325 so they follow each other 

Creating express style routes will benefit the later passengers wanting a 20min plus journey 

Chilli road going into town is to be used as the traffic is usually up to the chilli road up ramp so up and down into a bus lane is a gain to save time 

It also has the potential to not need 22X or X39 

Additional links to Tyne Tunnel trading Estate Northumberland Park and faster Coast Road journey times

(07 Oct 2025, 12:06 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Yeah you're probably right given the space to be fair.

It's an awkward one as there really does need to be some form of hub in the middle somewhere, as we've got the current scenario where somewhere like Rake Lane has 6 buses an hour, but if you live a few streets across you've got nothing at all and no realistic route either without going 15 minutes in the wrong direction to then double back. Marden, in particular, is really bad for it but you at the same time can't have 20 buses along the Coast Road or slow down the 306-10 anymore as they're bad enough as it is, especially the 310. 

Who knows but no-one has seemed to crack it so far. Parts of Washington and Birtley is much of the same really and imo the new Metro extension isn't the solution for it either as it's going have the same issue of doubling back at the Birtley side of Washington - where it's generally the worst.

This would also create a better service hub link at Battlehill shops as oppose to Station Road but it also is better in terms of crossing a road but you can also do shopping if you have a connection time  or just a greggs or a onestop /tesco /lidl 

it is such a shame the North East does not adopt the London style of terminating buses at shopping centres or supermarkets and actively advertise it.

(07 Oct 2025, 7:30 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote [ -> ]I've had a little think about it and to make it easier I will talk about current services...

306 - leave it alone in terms of route  (except force it to visit North Shields HUB/Metro station/Interchange) 

307 Haymarket to North Shields - limited stop  Newcastle Haymarket - 5 Swans - Civic Centre Direct to Corner House (connections for pub and Freeman football etc - chilli road stop (for chilli connections then direct to Station Road stop on ramp approach  remove the wills building stop to create a fast approach then all stops like the 306   through battlehill to jolly bowman pub  (307 - does not serve Mullen Road Loop or Hadrian Park ) 

307 then turns right at jolly Bowman  left onto Coast Road off at Silverlink up past McDonald's  but turns Right to behind the cinema and use the direct Road through the Tyne Tunnel trading estate to the bottom (providing job opportunities and a connection from Newcastle and residents nearby)  turn left  then left again and drive up past the Percy Main depot then right onto verne road to North Shields HUB 

A little different route but creates a little mix and the service is still covered by bus services nearby.

308 - create the Same Express route but to go via Battlehill Drive all stops in both directions and not the Coast Road stops (passengers often walk from coast road to battlehill drive and and users needing to use the subway they are used to it to access amenities so it's a very little impact as users use battlehill shops services anyway

309 Same idea as above omit going via Mullen Road to save time too

Now as Hadrian Park and and Mullen Road are bus less (ish ) 

340 -341 would operate a new service 

340 Wallsend up Wiltshire Drive  Mullen Road Battlehill Drive  Hadrian Park back out loop around the roundabout at BNQ to serve the bingo and Wallsend pub (future development here so locals will use the service) then down onto Coast Road and up silverlink into Cobalt and to Northumberland Park

341  Operates Newcastle Haymarket  to Chicken Road observing all stops  creating it a "slower service"  and hitting Wiltshire Drive  and Mullen Road  to Northumberland Park. 

350 351 is removed.

342 from Wallsend  will operate via Wiltshire drive  and run around holystone to provide a link.

351 if anything operates from Holystone to Northumberland park  hourly and ( 342 already providing a link too) 


There is no loss for the 350 or 351 being curtailed. 

For example the last bus leaves at Haymarket at 2325 but so does the 308 leaves the next stand at 2325 so they follow each other 

Creating express style routes will benefit the later passengers wanting a 20min plus journey 

Chilli road going into town is to be used as the traffic is usually up to the chilli road up ramp so up and down into a bus lane is a gain to save time 

It also has the potential to not need 22X or X39 

Additional links to Tyne Tunnel trading Estate Northumberland Park and faster Coast Road journey times

Some interesting ideas, not going to lie I've always thought that Hadrian Park should be connected to the Wallsend corridor somehow, it would be slightly longer but it would remove the annoyance of it.

Like if we're being ambitious and bringing your SL1 idea into it could you maybe do that and have something like

R1: Throckley to Hadrian Park via Wallsend - Every 20 Minutes
R2: Throckley to North Shields via Wallsend - Every 20 Minutes
R3: Gateshead Loop Clockwise (93/94) to Northumberland Park (short extension from Cobalt) via Wallsend - Every 20 Minutes
R4: Gateshead Loop Anticlockwise (93/94) to Northumberland Park (short extension from Cobalt) via Wallsend - Every 20 Minutes

97: Restored - Every 20 Minutes

307: Extended to Whitley Bay instead of the 301

I'll let someone else pick some numbers for the R1-4

It means you've now got the 340/341 free to do something with, unsure what mind but Hadrian Park is a bad terminus and you've moved the pain in the arse Hadrian Park loop away from the Coast Road to an increased service through some major towns. The 93/94 merger opening some seriously missing gaps right now, especially Newcastle to Team Valley and Saltmeadows which is crazy it doesn't exist and it's not a loop nowadays anyway.

(07 Oct 2025, 7:30 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote [ -> ]I've had a little think about it and to make it easier I will talk about current services...

306 - leave it alone in terms of route  (except force it to visit North Shields HUB/Metro station/Interchange) 

307 Haymarket to North Shields - limited stop  Newcastle Haymarket - 5 Swans - Civic Centre Direct to Corner House (connections for pub and Freeman football etc - chilli road stop (for chilli connections then direct to Station Road stop on ramp approach  remove the wills building stop to create a fast approach then all stops like the 306   through battlehill to jolly bowman pub  (307 - does not serve Mullen Road Loop or Hadrian Park ) 

307 then turns right at jolly Bowman  left onto Coast Road off at Silverlink up past McDonald's  but turns Right to behind the cinema and use the direct Road through the Tyne Tunnel trading estate to the bottom (providing job opportunities and a connection from Newcastle and residents nearby)  turn left  then left again and drive up past the Percy Main depot then right onto verne road to North Shields HUB 

A little different route but creates a little mix and the service is still covered by bus services nearby.

308 - create the Same Express route but to go via Battlehill Drive all stops in both directions and not the Coast Road stops (passengers often walk from coast road to battlehill drive and and users needing to use the subway they are used to it to access amenities so it's a very little impact as users use battlehill shops services anyway

309 Same idea as above omit going via Mullen Road to save time too

Now as Hadrian Park and and Mullen Road are bus less (ish ) 

340 -341 would operate a new service 

340 Wallsend up Wiltshire Drive  Mullen Road Battlehill Drive  Hadrian Park back out loop around the roundabout at BNQ to serve the bingo and Wallsend pub (future development here so locals will use the service) then down onto Coast Road and up silverlink into Cobalt and to Northumberland Park

341  Operates Newcastle Haymarket  to Chicken Road observing all stops  creating it a "slower service"  and hitting Wiltshire Drive  and Mullen Road  to Northumberland Park. 

350 351 is removed.

342 from Wallsend  will operate via Wiltshire drive  and run around holystone to provide a link.

351 if anything operates from Holystone to Northumberland park  hourly and ( 342 already providing a link too) 


There is no loss for the 350 or 351 being curtailed. 

For example the last bus leaves at Haymarket at 2325 but so does the 308 leaves the next stand at 2325 so they follow each other 

Creating express style routes will benefit the later passengers wanting a 20min plus journey 

Chilli road going into town is to be used as the traffic is usually up to the chilli road up ramp so up and down into a bus lane is a gain to save time 

It also has the potential to not need 22X or X39 

Additional links to Tyne Tunnel trading Estate Northumberland Park and faster Coast Road journey times

No loss for 350/351! Seems to be getting more popular to me. I’m not sure if forcing people to give up a relatively fast route into the city for a connection in Wallsend bus station will not go down well. I can’t think of a worse place to wait for a bus, especially at night. I’m all for interchange but to do it properly look at how the PTE did it in the 1980s. I was happy to interchange then and there was no penalty for changing modes as a Transfare was the same price as the single fare on my routes.