North East Buses

(17 Apr 2023, 12:13 am)markydh wrote [ -> ]They both played 'pretend nice' over this because they know fine well that if Labour win the North East Mayoralty next year (which is highly likely), one of the first things they are likely to explore is full-on franchising which is one of the proposed powers.  They need to show willing to cooperate on things like this because it's their only chance (and a slim one at that) at preventing it.

Franchising will happen everywhere by 2030.

People don't realise that operators are, under current BRG subsidy, still very much either making losses or only just breaking even (which from a business perspective is pointless - nothing to reinvent or grow with).

Honestly, when BRG ends, expect another 10-15% of services to go. The problem is, neither the operators or the authorities want to set hares racing with the politicians - but it's coming.

Had a think about this.....when the £2 fare stops at the end of June and if not extended, could GNE & Arriva not implement these fare zones for single & return tickets for the 306/307/308/309?

- Newcastle City area
- Wallsend*
- North Shields & Whitley Bay*
- Blyth Valley & Seaton Sluice

*Silverlink, Middle Engine Lane / Cobalt South & all of Cobalt Park would fall under both the Wallsend and North Shields & Whitley Bay zones

The £2 fare can't/shouldn't end in June,

(03 May 2023, 4:13 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Had a think about this.....when the £2 fare stops at the end of June and if not extended, could GNE & Arriva not implement these fare zones for single & return tickets for the 306/307/308/309?

- Newcastle City area
- Wallsend*
- North Shields & Whitley Bay*
- Blyth Valley & Seaton Sluice

*Silverlink, Middle Engine Lane / Cobalt South & all of Cobalt Park would fall under both the Wallsend and North Shields & Whitley Bay zones.

A qualifying agreement doesn't set single or return fares and it would not pass the competition test if it did. Unfortunately, not going to happen as the CMA won't allow it.

(03 May 2023, 4:15 pm)Unber43 wrote [ -> ]The £2 fare can't/shouldn't end in June,

My understanding is that there will be no more government funds to extend the £2 cap after 30th June.

(03 May 2023, 6:17 pm)RobinHood wrote [ -> ]A qualifying agreement doesn't set single or return fares and it would not pass the competition test if it did. Unfortunately, not going to happen as the CMA won't allow it.

Well technically, there's already other competition or alternative services not covered by the QA..

- Nearby metro services (if applicable)
- Arriva 51 (NCL > High Farm) - Not part of QA
- Stagecoach 38 (NCL > Corner House / Heaton)
- Stagecoach 22 (Cobalt, Silverlink and Willington Square)
- GNE 41/41A - Hadrian Park, Battle Hill and High Farm
- GNE 1 - Chirton, North Shields and the Coast
- Arriva 54 - Cobalt to Whitley Bay
- Stagecoach 317 - North Shields to Whitley Bay
- Nexus 335 - High Farm to North Shields
- Arriva X7 - Seaton Sluice to Blyth
- Arriva 'X' routes - Blyth to Newcastle

With news of the STACK opening in Whitley Bay and a Qualifying Agreement in place, could this not open up the opportunity of a Newcastle - Whitley Bay / Blyth night bus especially if a 1AM licence is granted on Fridays & Saturdays?

N38 - Newcastle Haymarket* - Newgate Street Wilkinsons - Market Street West - New Bridge Street West - John Dobson Street - Coast Road - High Farm - Battle Hill - Willington Square - Billy Mill - NT Hospital - Whitley Bay Park Avenue - Whitley Bay Seafront

*Note that NCL bound journeys would serve St Mary's Place then Haymarket.

Think Blyth would be a stretch too far although no harm in extending the 23:45 309 to Blyth (would give a last bus from W.Bay at nearly 12.30am).

Coaster StreetLites initially used.

(31 May 2023, 4:22 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]With news of the STACK opening in Whitley Bay and a Qualifying Agreement in place, could this not open up the opportunity of a Newcastle - Whitley Bay / Blyth night bus especially if a 1AM licence is granted on Fridays & Saturdays?

N38 - Newcastle Haymarket* - Newgate Street Wilkinsons - Market Street West - New Bridge Street West - John Dobson Street - Coast Road - High Farm - Battle Hill - Willington Square - Billy Mill - NT Hospital - Whitley Bay Park Avenue - Whitley Bay Seafront

*Note that NCL bound journeys would serve St Mary's Place then Haymarket.

Think Blyth would be a stretch too far although no harm in extending the 23:45 309 to Blyth (would give a last bus from W.Bay at nearly 12.30am).

Coaster StreetLites initially used.

I highly highly highly doubt stack at Whitley Bay will make very very very little difference to the Coast Road buses

Any nightbus in North Tyneside should be on the 1/22 corridor and if not that the 306 extended to Whitley Bay.

There's lots of destinations on that route which have a night time economy:
Whitley Bay - Tynemouth - North Shields - Wallsend - Byker - Newcastle

The only reason buses aren't popular on that corridor much during the day is due to the Metro which doesn't run. It runs through some of the most urban corridors in Newcastle.

The N58 failed when people actually went to Whitley Bay as there's nothing in that corridor to note.

I wonder if GNE would do a N1, N309 (so they can possibly do bits of the 310/309/306 as part of a new route_

(31 May 2023, 7:21 pm)Unber43 wrote [ -> ]I wonder if GNE would do a N1, N309 (so they can possibly do bits of the 310/309/306 as part of a new route_

Doubt it on the Coast Road corridor, the last 2 times they've tried it along there (N58) it failed both times.

(31 May 2023, 7:42 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Doubt it on the Coast Road corridor, the last 2 times they've tried it along there (N58) it failed both times.

I think if the STACK got awarded a 1am licence, things would be a lot different this time around:

- Whereas the 'good old days' of a Whitley Bay night out would likely just attract locals around NE25, NE26, NE27 and NE29 plus a few from other areas, the new STACK effectively replaces what already existed North of The Tyne. There's been no STACK North of The Tyne since Pilgrim Street closed. And I do actually know of a few people who travel over to Seaburn for their STACK.

- When the N58 existed, it was red-meat all around between GNE & Arriva. Things are different now with the Qualifying Agreement and effectively, a new night bus would be a 'joint venture' between TNE, GNE and Arriva although GNE would likely be the operator.

- In relation to above, people back then wouldn't exactly associate the N58 with the 308. But an N38 with joint ticketing would effectively be seen as a night time variant of the 308 (although serving Battle Hill & High Farm).

- Bus stop very closeby the new proposed location of the STACK (the old Avenue Pub).

- More fuel efficient vehicles available to use (Citaro back on the N58 vs StreetLites). Note that GNE could technically use the 1 arriving at the MetroCentre (0003) to form a departure after midnight from Newcastle back towards the Coast.

- Cost of Taxis vs Cost of Bus (although Taxis in 'some' instances are cheaper). 

- Student population travelling to Whitley Bay STACK and looking for cheap way back home.

(31 May 2023, 9:57 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]I think if the STACK got awarded a 1am licence, things would be a lot different this time around:

- Whereas the 'good old days' of a Whitley Bay night out would likely just attract locals around NE25, NE26, NE27 and NE29 plus a few from other areas, the new STACK effectively replaces what already existed North of The Tyne. There's been no STACK North of The Tyne since Pilgrim Street closed. And I do actually know of a few people who travel over to Seaburn for their STACK.

- When the N58 existed, it was red-meat all around between GNE & Arriva. Things are different now with the Qualifying Agreement and effectively, a new night bus would be a 'joint venture' between TNE, GNE and Arriva although GNE would likely be the operator.

- In relation to above, people back then wouldn't exactly associate the N58 with the 308. But an N38 with joint ticketing would effectively be seen as a night time variant of the 308 (although serving Battle Hill & High Farm).

- Bus stop very closeby the new proposed location of the STACK (the old Avenue Pub).

- More fuel efficient vehicles available to use (Citaro back on the N58 vs StreetLites). Note that GNE could technically use the 1 arriving at the MetroCentre (0003) to form a departure after midnight from Newcastle back towards the Coast.

- Cost of Taxis vs Cost of Bus (although Taxis in 'some' instances are cheaper). 

- Student population travelling to Whitley Bay STACK and looking for cheap way back home.

Isn't the STACK reopening in Newcastle in the near future though?

(31 May 2023, 9:57 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]I think if the STACK got awarded a 1am licence, things would be a lot different this time around:

- Whereas the 'good old days' of a Whitley Bay night out would likely just attract locals around NE25, NE26, NE27 and NE29 plus a few from other areas, the new STACK effectively replaces what already existed North of The Tyne. There's been no STACK North of The Tyne since Pilgrim Street closed. And I do actually know of a few people who travel over to Seaburn for their STACK.

- When the N58 existed, it was red-meat all around between GNE & Arriva. Things are different now with the Qualifying Agreement and effectively, a new night bus would be a 'joint venture' between TNE, GNE and Arriva although GNE would likely be the operator.

- In relation to above, people back then wouldn't exactly associate the N58 with the 308. But an N38 with joint ticketing would effectively be seen as a night time variant of the 308 (although serving Battle Hill & High Farm).

- Bus stop very closeby the new proposed location of the STACK (the old Avenue Pub).

- More fuel efficient vehicles available to use (Citaro back on the N58 vs StreetLites). Note that GNE could technically use the 1 arriving at the MetroCentre (0003) to form a departure after midnight from Newcastle back towards the Coast.

- Cost of Taxis vs Cost of Bus (although Taxis in 'some' instances are cheaper). 

- Student population travelling to Whitley Bay STACK and looking for cheap way back home.

But what's going to make a difference. Pier 39 / 42nd Street / DEEP / Eazy Street / Havana and so on all had a much bigger capacity than what Stack has. Whitley Bay literally was the in place to go on a Bank Holiday Monday.

People aren't going to travel to Whitley Bay from Newcastle for just Stack (there's another one planned in Newcastle anyway). Similar to people from Newcastle don't travel to Seaburn. It's nothing special.

There's also the big problem that the students don't live in Newcastle either so the bus will just leave them stranded in the wrong place. The N21 and N56 only work as they have multiple points on the route.

Newcastle - Low Fell - Chester Le Street - Durham for the N21
Newcastle - Concord - Sunderland for the N56

Also barely anyone young lives along the Coast Road, so I'm not sure who's going to be using it. It's all families.

There's 3 corridors that would work potentially North of the Tyne and they are imo:

N1: Newcastle - Jesmond - Gosforth - Regent Centre - Cramlington (43/Q3 combination)
N2: West Denton - West Road - Newcastle - Heaton - Hadrian Park (11/1/307 combination)
N3: Newcastle - Byker - Wallsend - North Shields - Tynemouth - Whitley Bay (22/1 combination)

Outside of those, they'd struggle imo. The numbers don't link with routes as they're different routes than during the day to reflect duplicating Metro's but it's in all 3 operators areas so wouldn't really work.

I think this is just a massive overeggageration of what the stack will do for passenger numbers

(01 Jun 2023, 8:19 pm)Unber43 wrote [ -> ]I think this is just a massive overeggageration of what the stack will do for passenger numbers

Not exactly, could be a gamechanger depending whether a 1AM licence is granted.

However, I do also see Storx's point about tying in with the Metro.

Maybe something like this if a half hourly frequency could be sustained between Newcastle and Wallsend..........

- N1 - Newcastle - Byker - Walkergate A193 - Wallsend - then the Number 1 route to Whitley Bay

- N2 - As per N1 to High Street West then Station Road - High Farm - Battle Hill - Willington Square then 308 route to Whitley Bay

N2 would at least cover parts of the Metro, but also cover parts of the Coast Road services where taxis will likely be more pricey

Has Stack at Seaburn generated an immediate need for night buses?

For the vast majority of 'revellers' they're gonna grab an Uber or private cab home - they ain't going to be jumping on a bus

(05 Jun 2023, 1:20 pm)Ambassador wrote [ -> ]Has Stack at Seaburn generated an immediate need for night buses?

For the vast majority of 'revellers' they're gonna grab an Uber or private cab home - they ain't going to be jumping on a bus

If you're the Economic that hits the Stack going to Sunderland around 10-ish on a friday or saturday, you're gonna get a fair few on going to the town. I wouldn't necessarily say night buses though, as it seems to die down after about half 10.

So....I've worked the timings out and will publish when I next get a chance. But the below would solve:

* Lack of a fast bus for the more Eastern parts of the 308 & 309. Slow links from parts of West Chirton, North Shields and Marden

* Increasing congestion issues around Whitley Bay, Foxhunters & Rake Lane = more running time for X38

* Proper integration of the 51/351 into the Coast Road network


304 (every 30 mins to Holystone Park, every 60 mins to Whitley Bay)
- Newcastle Haymarket - Coast Road - Station Road - Benton ASDA - Holystone - Holystone Park - West Allotment - Shiremoor - Earsdon - Beaumont Park - Whitley Bay

305 (every 30 mins)
- Newcastle Haymarket - Coast Road - Wiltshire Drive - High Farm - Battle Hill Drive - Hadrian Park

306 (every 15 mins)
- Newcastle Haymarket - Coast Road - Selby Gardens - Wallsend Dene - Willington Square - Silverlink - Norham Road - Verne Road - Central Avenue - Delaval Avenue - Chirton Green - Hawkeys Lane - Queen Alexandra Road - North Shields - Tynemouth

307 (every 30 mins)
- Same as now but via Cobalt Park, A191 New York Road and Norham Road North rather than Hadrian Park

309 (every 30 mins)
- Same as now but via Marden and the Broadway rather than Foxhunters & Hillheads

X38 (every 15 mins)
- Same as 308 between Blyth and Coast Road / Willington Square, then non-stop to Haymarket only calling at Civic Centre and St Mary's place
- Peak time journeys in the according direction additionally serve all stops between Coast Road / Station Road and Coast Road / Willington Square for St Thomas More students

Combined frequencies & key corridors :
- Newcastle - Coast Road / Station Road - every 5 minutes

- Newcastle - Coast Road - High Farm - Battle Hill - Cobalt Park - every 15 minutes (+305 half hourly to Battle Hill)

- Newcastle - Coast Road - Wallsend Dene - Willington Square - Silverlink - West Chirton - Chirton - North Shields - Tynemouth - every 15 minutes (+ X38 for some parts)

- Blyth - Seaton Sluice - Whitley Bay - North Tyneside Hospital - Billy Mill - Norham Road - Silverlink - Willington Square then fast to Newcastle - every 15 minutes


Current PVR's (Total = 31.5):
- 51/351 - 2.5x
- Arriva Northumbria 306 & 308 (interworking) - 15x
- Go North East 307 (standalone) - 6x
- Go North East 309 (standalone) - 8x

New PVR's (31):
- Go North East 304/305 (interworking) - 6x
- Arriva Northumbria 306/X38 (interworking) - 17x
- Go North East 307 - 4x
- Go North East 309 - 4x

(17 Jul 2023, 7:55 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]So....I've worked the timings out and will publish when I next get a chance. But the below would solve:

* Lack of a fast bus for the more Eastern parts of the 308 & 309. Slow links from parts of West Chirton, North Shields and Marden

* Increasing congestion issues around Whitley Bay, Foxhunters & Rake Lane = more running time for X38

* Proper integration of the 51/351 into the Coast Road network


304 (every 30 mins to Holystone Park, every 60 mins to Whitley Bay)
- Newcastle Haymarket - Coast Road - Station Road - Benton ASDA - Holystone - Holystone Park - West Allotment - Shiremoor - Earsdon - Beaumont Park - Whitley Bay

305 (every 30 mins)
- Newcastle Haymarket - Coast Road - Wiltshire Drive - High Farm - Battle Hill Drive - Hadrian Park

306 (every 15 mins)
- Newcastle Haymarket - Coast Road - Selby Gardens - Wallsend Dene - Willington Square - Silverlink - Norham Road - Verne Road - Central Avenue - Delaval Avenue - Chirton Green - Hawkeys Lane - Queen Alexandra Road - North Shields - Tynemouth

307 (every 30 mins)
- Same as now but via Cobalt Park, A191 New York Road and Norham Road North rather than Hadrian Park

309 (every 30 mins)
- Same as now but via Marden and the Broadway rather than Foxhunters & Hillheads

X38 (every 15 mins)
- Same as 308 between Blyth and Coast Road / Willington Square, then non-stop to Haymarket only calling at Civic Centre and St Mary's place
- Peak time journeys in the according direction additionally serve all stops between Coast Road / Station Road and Coast Road / Willington Square for St Thomas More students

Combined frequencies & key corridors :
- Newcastle - Coast Road / Station Road - every 5 minutes

- Newcastle - Coast Road - High Farm - Battle Hill - Cobalt Park - every 15 minutes (+305 half hourly to Battle Hill)

- Newcastle - Coast Road - Wallsend Dene - Willington Square - Silverlink - West Chirton - Chirton - North Shields - Tynemouth - every 15 minutes (+ X38 for some parts)

- Blyth - Seaton Sluice - Whitley Bay - North Tyneside Hospital - Billy Mill - Norham Road - Silverlink - Willington Square then fast to Newcastle - every 15 minutes


Current PVR's (Total = 31.5):
- 51/351 - 2.5x
- Arriva Northumbria 306 & 308 (interworking) - 15x
- Go North East 307 (standalone) - 6x
- Go North East 309 (standalone) - 8x

New PVR's (31):
- Go North East 304/305 (interworking) - 6x
- Arriva Northumbria 306/X38 (interworking) - 17x
- Go North East 307 - 4x
- Go North East 309 - 4x

You just know someone is gonna disect this

(17 Jul 2023, 10:32 pm)V514DFT wrote [ -> ]You just know someone is gonna disect this

People are going to agree & disagree. That's the whole part of the forum.

In terms of the benefits for each service

304:
- Improved frequency on parts with newer developments and potential growth including practically same route as car between Holystone and Newcastle.
- Better commercial footing with proper integration along the Coast Road and revenue streams.

305:
- Covers the hard to serve areas and frees up other resources such as allowing the 307 to maintain a frequent Cobalt - Newcastle service alongside the 309.

306:
- Offers a faster service for users in West Chirton, Chirton and parts of North Shields including new links opened up.
- Potential growth with new housing developments around West Chirton and Norham Road area.
- Some new links opened up.

307 & 309:
- Improved Cobalt to Newcastle service including some new links opened up to Cobalt.
- Faster and more logical Marden - Newcastle service including the Marden - NT Hospital link being restored.
- Improved timekeeping and reduced congestion especially on service 309.

X38:
- Allows extra time to be added between Blyth & Billy Mill addressing issues with traffic blackspots.
- Potential growth with new housing development near North Tyneside Hospital.
- Reduces overbussing between Whitley Bay and Blyth, connection opportunities offered with the 309 for Cobalt and all stops with the 306.

(18 Jul 2023, 7:16 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]People are going to agree & disagree. That's the whole part of the forum.

In terms of the benefits for each service

304:
- Improved frequency on parts with newer developments and potential growth including practically same route as car between Holystone and Newcastle.
- Better commercial footing with proper integration along the Coast Road and revenue streams.

305:
- Covers the hard to serve areas and frees up other resources such as allowing the 307 to maintain a frequent Cobalt - Newcastle service alongside the 309.

306:
- Offers a faster service for users in West Chirton, Chirton and parts of North Shields including new links opened up.
- Potential growth with new housing developments around West Chirton and Norham Road area.
- Some new links opened up.

307 & 309:
- Improved Cobalt to Newcastle service including some new links opened up to Cobalt.
- Faster and more logical Marden - Newcastle service including the Marden - NT Hospital link being restored.
- Improved timekeeping and reduced congestion especially on service 309.

X38:
- Allows extra time to be added between Blyth & Billy Mill addressing issues with traffic blackspots.
- Potential growth with new housing development near North Tyneside Hospital.
- Reduces overbussing between Whitley Bay and Blyth, connection opportunities offered with the 309 for Cobalt and all stops with the 306.

Not going to comment on it all, but some should be swapped around imo.

308: 309 route from Newcastle to Battle Hill -> Silverlink -> 308 route to NT Hospital -> Morrisons -> Marden -> Whitley Bay (Every 30 Minutes)
X38: Same as below but 308 route in Blyth (Every 30 Minutes)
X39: 309 route from Blyth to Cobalt -> Silverlink -> Willington Quay -> Non Stop -> Newcastle (Every 30 Minutes)
X38/X39: Every 15 Minutes Combined offering express route between Cobalt and Newcastle.

The business park needs the express service if any and would give a direct service to Silverlink without having to use the horrid roundabout stops. Not to mention you'd keep the Battle Hill links to Silverlink since you've pulled the 306 out.

(18 Jul 2023, 7:50 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Not going to comment on it all, but some should be swapped around imo.

308: 309 route from Newcastle to Battle Hill -> Silverlink -> 308 route to NT Hospital -> Morrisons -> Marden -> Whitley Bay (Every 30 Minutes)
X38: Same as below but 308 route in Blyth (Every 30 Minutes)
X39: 309 route from Blyth to Cobalt -> Silverlink -> Willington Quay -> Non Stop -> Newcastle (Every 30 Minutes)
X38/X39: Every 15 Minutes Combined offering express route between Cobalt and Newcastle.

The business park needs the express service if any and would give a direct service to Silverlink without having to use the horrid roundabout stops. Not to mention you'd keep the Battle Hill links to Silverlink since you've pulled the 306 out.

Cant argue with that

(18 Jul 2023, 7:50 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Not going to comment on it all, but some should be swapped around imo.

308: 309 route from Newcastle to Battle Hill -> Silverlink -> 308 route to NT Hospital -> Morrisons -> Marden -> Whitley Bay (Every 30 Minutes)
X38: Same as below but 308 route in Blyth (Every 30 Minutes)
X39: 309 route from Blyth to Cobalt -> Silverlink -> Willington Quay -> Non Stop -> Newcastle (Every 30 Minutes)
X38/X39: Every 15 Minutes Combined offering express route between Cobalt and Newcastle.

The business park needs the express service if any and would give a direct service to Silverlink without having to use the horrid roundabout stops. Not to mention you'd keep the Battle Hill links to Silverlink since you've pulled the 306 out.

Totally get your point about Cobalt. But the sticking points I can see are....

- Reduction in service for Billy Mill - would still be highly used even if a more frequent alternative covering further down along Verne Road.

- Off peak.........would these generate sufficient revenue missing Billy Mill and instead operating via Cobalt & Silverlink?

- Traffic.....Cobalt South and Mallard Way can get severely congested on occasions and in some cases total gridlock. That's not to say the slip roads don't, but at least going via Billy Mill would allow something like the following worst case............

"Severe congestion at Silverlink, X38 omitting Silverlink. Catch service 306 instead and change at Willington Square or Norham Road".

And when the Silverlink gets congested, so does Middle Engine Lane towards Battle Hill.

Whitley Bay STACK has been granted a 1pm licence.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.chronic...565075.amp

Surely this could be an opportunity to test the water with a night service?

Something like this to start with using the 2212 Coaster 1 ex Whitley Bay after it arrives at the MetroCentre at 0003.

N38 - Grainger Street - Market Street West - Pilgrim Street - John Dobson Street - As per 309 to Battle Hill Drive - Willington Square - As per 308 to Whitley Bay Seafront. And would be using a StreetLite further reducing costs.

ex Newcastle: 00:25
arr Whitley Bay: 01:05
ex Whitley Bay: 01:10
arr Newcastle: 01:50
ex Newcastle: 02:10
arr Whitley Bay: 02:50

(21 Aug 2023, 7:01 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Whitley Bay STACK has been granted a 1pm licence.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.chronic...565075.amp

Surely this could be an opportunity to test the water with a night service?

Something like this to start with using the 2212 Coaster 1 ex Whitley Bay after it arrives at the MetroCentre at 0003.

N38 - Grainger Street - Market Street West - Pilgrim Street - John Dobson Street - As per 309 to Battle Hill Drive - Willington Square - As per 308 to Whitley Bay Seafront. And would be using a StreetLite further reducing costs.

ex Newcastle: 00:25
arr Whitley Bay: 01:05
ex Whitley Bay: 01:10
arr Newcastle: 01:50
ex Newcastle: 02:10
arr Whitley Bay: 02:50

If I lived on the 1 route between Gateshead and Metro and I heard about the Whitley Bay stack and i could get a bus there later on a night it would definetly creep up my interest to go (tho it doesn't help that the route is hourly)

(21 Aug 2023, 7:01 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Whitley Bay STACK has been granted a 1pm licence.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.chronic...565075.amp

Surely this could be an opportunity to test the water with a night service?

Something like this to start with using the 2212 Coaster 1 ex Whitley Bay after it arrives at the MetroCentre at 0003.

N38 - Grainger Street - Market Street West - Pilgrim Street - John Dobson Street - As per 309 to Battle Hill Drive - Willington Square - As per 308 to Whitley Bay Seafront. And would be using a StreetLite further reducing costs.

ex Newcastle: 00:25
arr Whitley Bay: 01:05
ex Whitley Bay: 01:10
arr Newcastle: 01:50
ex Newcastle: 02:10
arr Whitley Bay: 02:50

Don't really see why the Coast Road would be the best corridor.

If there's scope for night buses from Whitley they'd be

N1: 1 route from Whitley Bay to Gateshead
N2: This route: https://www.google.com/maps/dir/54.97848...?entry=ttu

That second corridor might not be popular during the day but would at night time as it covers the Metro, providing Metro tickets are valid on the services and are done in partnership with Nexus.

The N58 already failed when Whitley Bay was at it's peak, it won't be anywhere near as popular the Stack.

If the Metro wasn't there the 1 would be very successful, so i think a night bus would work, there is no competition with the metro during the night time.

However i think it would have to run out of Riverside.

Why does anyone think one venue being open a few hours later is going to be anywhere near enough to justify a night service?

Sent from my SM-F721B using Tapatalk

(21 Aug 2023, 8:29 pm)Storx wrote [ -> ]Don't really see why the Coast Road would be the best corridor.

The N58 already failed when Whitley Bay was at it's peak, it won't be anywhere near as popular the Stack.

I totally get what you mean about covering the Metro routes. But already (not via Billy Mill though), there is a late service from Newcastle to Whitley Bay (309) at 23:45. That and the 21 being the last services to depart Haymarket & Eldon Square.

Now when the N58 was tried a few years back, it was unattractive due to no commonality with Arriva who at the time were the dominant Coast Road operator. Now with joint ticketing, promotion and marketing......who knows. GNE have the perfect feeder service and vehicle to pick up the first ex Newcastle journey.

If the service ran as N308 rather than N38, punters would know straightaway that it's effectively a 308. Something down the lines off.........

"Staying out even later? Get home with 'N'308. Your same great service 308 operating even later between Newcastle and Whitley Bay Seafront, serving the heart of Newcastle City Centre and additionally serving High Farm & Battle Hill Drive."