North East Buses

Note that unless stated, frequencies remain the same!

Abbreviations:
QA = Qualifying Agreement

Changes:
Q3 - Every 20 minutes - Great Park to Wallsend then Station Road - Cross Avenue - Springfield Gardens - Wiltshire Drive - High Farm - Battle Hill Drive - Hadrian Park

51 - Omits Wiltshire Drive (replaced by 307) and evening service withdrawn

(QA - High Howdon to Newcastle) 301 - Every 30 minutes - Whitley Bay - Cullercoates - Marden - Tynemouth Seafront - Percy Park Road - Manor Road - King Edward Road & Linskill Terrace - North Shields then current number 1 route to Metrocentre

(QA - High Howdon to Newcastle) 302 - Every 30 minutes - Whitley Bay - Marden Quarry - Marden - Morrisons - Beach Road - Tynemouth Seafront - Percy Park Road - Manor Road - King Edward Road & Linskill Terrace - North Shields then current number 1 route to Metrocentre

306 - Omits Battle Hill Drive. Current route to North Shields then via Tynemouth Road, Manor Road, Broadway and anti-clockwise loop of Marden Estate

307 - Omits Hadrian Park (replaced by 322) and via Wiltshire Drive

(QA - High Howdon to Newcastle) 322 (22 re-numbered) - Every 15 minutes - Throckley to Churchill Street then Hadrian Park - Middle Engine Lane - Silverlink Osprey Drive - Cobalt Park

Withdrawn services:
- 1 - Replaced by 301 & 302
- 22 - Replaced by 322
- Evening 51 - 307 serves Wiltshire Drive
- 41/41A - replaced by extended Q3

Improvements:
- Better coordinated frequency between High Howdon and Newcastle and new Qualifying Agreement between Go North East & Stagecoach (services 301, 302 and 322).
- New links from Hadrian Park, Battle Hill Drive and High Farm to the East End of Newcastle and Quayside.
- Improved links and increased frequency to Newcastle City Centre from Hadrian Park, shorter walking distances than Haymarket in some cases.
- Improved service to Newcastle from Wiltshire Drive making better use of an existing commercial service.
- Quicker service from Marden Estate to Newcastle with more streamlined and linear route, including new links on the Broadway.
- Improved links from Hadrian Park to Silverlink and Cobalt.
- Improved route on service 307, with two ways in / out of Wiltshire Drive.
- Better coordinated frequency between services 306 & 308 from Billy Mill to Newcastle, offering an 'even' 10 minute frequency.
- Potentially 'later' last journey to Hadrian Park from Newcastle based on current 22 times.

Drawbacks:
- Slower service to Cobalt and Silverlink, but most journeys made on existing service 22 are 'local' journeys.
- Loss of frequent Hadrian Park to North Shields service - service 335 remains and link hasn't existed as such since 2008.
- Some gains / losses for either King Edwards Road & Linskill Terrace or Tynemouth Road depending on travel intentions, but can still access within 400-500m walking distance in most cases.
- Loss of link from Tynemouth, North Shields and parts of Chirton & Collingwood to Battle Hill Drive. Can still be easily accessed within short walking distance from Willington Square and Coast Road including Tynemet College (note that 6th form is now based at Coast Road Campus and not Hawkeys Lane).
- Unsure what would happen to service 22X?

Stagecoach or Arriva aren't going to agree this. Why would / should they give up their frequency / more popular corridor via Linskill to the 1 which is subsidised in the evening.

I know you like GNE but Stagecoach aren't going to bail out their crap operations in North Tyneside.

Not to mention you've just cut Throckley to Newcastle from 6 buses an hour to 4 buses an hour for no reason at all.

(11 Mar 2023, 10:50 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]Stagecoach or Arriva aren't going to agree this. Why would / should they give up their frequency / more popular corridor via Linskill to the 1 which is subsidised in the evening.

I know you like GNE but Stagecoach aren't going to bail out their crap operations in North Tyneside.

Not to mention you've just cut Throckley to Newcastle from 6 buses an hour to 4 buses an hour for no reason at all.

Well the 306 via Tynemouth Road, Manor Road and the Broadway to Newcastle would actually improve the Marden to Newcastle service provision with a slightly more direct route.

And is Linskill Terrace really a popular corridor or.....Billy Mill to Tynemouth for that matter considering the 2345 306 ex Newcastle is about to be withdrawn? If it was, the 309 would be down to depart at 2330 or 2335 with the 306 remaining at 2345 or 2350. I travelled to Linskill Terrace on the 2042 service ex Newcastle back in Oct 2021, and was the only passenger on by the time it got there.

I know Stagecoach aren't there to bail out GNE's crap operations, but the same could be said for the Coast Road and Arriva bailing GNE out. Not forgetting that High Howdon to Wallsend and Newcastle was originally GNE territory before the 22 was extended and also the 80/42/42A to Cobalt. 

As for Throckley, they also have the X82, 684 and 685.

How many threads and posts do we need about the Coast Road and that area, its becoming very repetitive......

(11 Mar 2023, 11:10 am)Michael wrote [ -> ]How many threads and posts do we need about the Coast Road and that area, its becoming very repetitive......

Not just about the Coast Road, but does coincidentally come into the suggestions particularly where the 322 is concerned. And also the Q3 replacing the 41/41A.

Not forgetting that a clean up of the High Howdon to Newcastle corridor through Wallsend, Walkergate and Byker would benefit passengers:

- Monday to Saturday - Every 7-8 minutes
- Evenings & Sundays - Every 15 minutes

Also would be a huge boost for Wiltshire Drive having a stable and regular commercial service as opposed to a random hourly minibus, not forgetting Nexus would save money pulling the evening 51 journeys.

(11 Mar 2023, 11:10 am)Michael wrote [ -> ]How many threads and posts do we need about the Coast Road and that area, its becoming very repetitive......

How many times has it been suggested, mostly by the same person nonetheless, that the 22 should be spilt with one going into Hadrian Park instead of Silverlink/Cobalt?

Bearing in mind, next to no-one travelled between Hadrian Park/Battle Hill and Howdon when the 41 (or 41A - whatever it was) link was reinstated last year. Howdon already has the current iterations or the 1 and 22 into Newcastle. Hadrian Park already has a link into Newcastle. And the 22 is partially (or perhaps wholly) funded by Cobalt which means Stagecoach would be taking a commercial risk on any deviation to the service.

Talk about flogging a dead horse.

(11 Mar 2023, 11:05 am)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Well the 306 via Tynemouth Road, Manor Road and the Broadway to Newcastle would actually improve the Marden to Newcastle service provision with a slightly more direct route.

And is Linskill Terrace really a popular corridor or.....Billy Mill to Tynemouth for that matter considering the 2345 306 ex Newcastle is about to be withdrawn? If it was, the 309 would be down to depart at 2330 or 2335 with the 306 remaining at 2345 or 2350. I travelled to Linskill Terrace on the 2042 service ex Newcastle back in Oct 2021, and was the only passenger on by the time it got there.

I know Stagecoach aren't there to bail out GNE's crap operations, but the same could be said for the Coast Road and Arriva bailing GNE out. Not forgetting that High Howdon to Wallsend and Newcastle was originally GNE territory before the 22 was extended and also the 80/42/42A to Cobalt. 

As for Throckley, they also have the X82, 684 and 685.

But not anywhere between on the 22 which is a very busy route. I wouldn't say Arriva is really bailing GNE out, both are as bad as each other and they're both winning really.

If we're going down the radical route changes then something like this would be better:

10/11 (SNE): Terminate in Newcastle

22: Every 20 Minutes (SNE)
23: Every 20 Minutes, 22 extended from Howdon to Whitley Bay via 1 route (SNE)

22/23 Combined: Every 10 Minutes Throckley to Howdon

X36: Every 30 Minutes; X82 Throckley to Newcastle, extended to Cobalt at peak times

36: Every 20 Minutes; West Denton Park - West Road - Newcastle - High Farm - Battle Hill - Cobalt - 37
37: Every 20 Minutes; West Denton - West Road - Newcastle - High Farm - Battle Hill - Hadrian Park - Norham Road - New York - Cobalt - 36
38: Every 10 Minutes; Extended hourly to Whitley Bay via Benton Road and doing loop around the new housing estate near The Range.

36/37/38 Combined: Every 5 Minutes West Road, 36/37 Every 10 Minutes Battle Hill to Newcastle

306 - Every 30 Minutes;
307 - Every 30 Minutes; 306 from Newcastle to Norham Road, 307 route to North Shields, 306 to Tynemouth only
308 - Every 15 Minutes (Arriva)

317 - Slight route change near NT Hospital
19 - Additionally serve Meadowell instead of Royal Quays

1 - Withdrawn replaced by 23 mostly
51 - Withdrawn, replaced by 37/38
54 - Upped to Every 30 Minutes extended to Blyth via South Beach
309 - Withdrawn replaced by 36 and 54

It creates a network that serves a purpose and cross city links which are lacking East / West, obviously you can't do it under the current model though.

Network Map below:
[attachment=10411]

D. Pink: 36
Red: 37
L Green: 38

Light Blue: 306/307
Dark Blue: 307 Variant
Purple: 308

Bright Blue: 22
Bright Pink: 23

Turquoise: 54

Mustard: 19
Burgundy: 317

It literally removes all duplication from the area.

Had a little think about this and something slightly different to usual. Yes......it does include my infamous idea for Hadrian Park & Wiltshire Drive.......but also some wider benefits that actually tie in and not just a knee jerk reaction to get rid of the 51.

Stagecoach
22:
* Every 10 minutes from Throckley to Churchill Street.
* Then every 20 minutes to Cobalt & Silverlink, or Hadrian Park.
* Evening journeys split hourly to Cobalt & Silverlink or Hadrian Park.
* Sunday daytime journeys extend from Hadrian Park to Silverlink.

37:
* Every 30 minutes.
* Same route as 38 from Whickham View to Freeman Hospital.
* Continues to Northumberland Park Interchange via Benton Park Road, Whitley Road, East Benton Rise, Benton ASDA, Holystone, Holystone Park and West Allotment.

38:
* Short journey every 30 minutes Whickham View to Freeman Hospital.
* Full journey every 30 minutes Whickham View to Freeman Hospital, then continutes via Freeman Road to Haddricks Mill before following current 55 route to Forest Hall and Meadway loop.


Arriva
51:
* Hourly
* Same route as now between Whitley Bay and A191 New York Road, then via B1322 following current 54 route to Newcastle.

53:
* Every 30 minutes.
* Same route as now between Cramlington and New York.
* Then via North Tyneside Hospital (including roundabout), Barnstaple Road, Devon Road, Whitehouse Lane then currrent 53 route to North Shields.

54:
* Withdrawn.

55:
* Withdrawn.

57/57A:
* Up to every 30 minutes.
* Extended to North Shields during the day.
* Route from Billy Mill Lane via Whitehouse Farm, Alwinton Avenue then as per current 335 route.
* Also operates via Murton Village & New York (anti-clockwise to N/Shields / clockwise to Whitley Bay) during the day.

306:
* Omits Battle Hill Drive and terminates in Whitley Bay Town Centre.


Go North East
307:
* Operates via Wiltshire Drive instead of Hadrian Park.


Nexus/GCT
335:
* Killingworth to Cobalt only >> would there be a need for this service with most links covered by alternative routes?

(26 Apr 2023, 7:23 pm)L469 YVK wrote [ -> ]Had a little think about this and something slightly different to usual. Yes......it does include my infamous idea for Hadrian Park & Wiltshire Drive.......but also some wider benefits that actually tie in and not just a knee jerk reaction to get rid of the 51.

Stagecoach
22:
* Every 10 minutes from Throckley to Churchill Street.
* Then every 20 minutes to Cobalt & Silverlink, or Hadrian Park.
* Evening journeys split hourly to Cobalt & Silverlink or Hadrian Park.
* Sunday daytime journeys extend from Hadrian Park to Silverlink.

37:
* Every 30 minutes.
* Same route as 38 from Whickham View to Freeman Hospital.
* Continues to Northumberland Park Interchange via Benton Park Road, Whitley Road, East Benton Rise, Benton ASDA, Holystone, Holystone Park and West Allotment.

38:
* Short journey every 30 minutes Whickham View to Freeman Hospital.
* Full journey every 30 minutes Whickham View to Freeman Hospital, then continutes via Freeman Road to Haddricks Mill before following current 55 route to Forest Hall and Meadway loop.


Arriva
51:
* Hourly
* Same route as now between Whitley Bay and A191 New York Road, then via B1322 following current 54 route to Newcastle.

53:
* Every 30 minutes.
* Same route as now between Cramlington and New York.
* Then via North Tyneside Hospital (including roundabout), Barnstaple Road, Devon Road, Whitehouse Lane then currrent 53 route to North Shields.

54:
* Withdrawn.

55:
* Withdrawn.

57/57A:
* Up to every 30 minutes.
* Extended to North Shields during the day.
* Route from Billy Mill Lane via Whitehouse Farm, Alwinton Avenue then as per current 335 route.
* Also operates via Murton Village & New York (anti-clockwise to N/Shields / clockwise to Whitley Bay) during the day.

306:
* Omits Battle Hill Drive and terminates in Whitley Bay Town Centre.


Go North East
307:
* Operates via Wiltshire Drive instead of Hadrian Park.


Nexus/GCT
335:
* Killingworth to Cobalt only >> would there be a need for this service with most links covered by alternative routes?

Don't agree with those 57/57A changes, it's just a long detour with no benefits from anyone on the core of the route (Cramlington to Whitley Bay). Merging it with the 317 would be better (North Shields Ferry to Whitley Bay only) and in turn merge the 19 with the Ashington to Cramlington bit. Obviously not possible though because of subsidises.

Personally for the 51/55 I'd do this.
51 (Every 30 Minutes) - https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.04195...978252!3e0

55 Extension (Every 30 Minutes) - https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.02148...9a!1m0!3e0

59/60 - New Newcastle to Killingworth Loop doing this route - https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Newcastl...9e!1m0!3e0

Short 19 - Extended to Killingworth via Backworth every hour.

335 - Western side withdrawn.

54 Withdrawn

Reasons:
Most the K routes in Killingworth replaced by the new 59/60 and the Forest Hall to Quorum link on the 335 leading to withdrawal.
59/60 keeps Gosforth to Quorum and Killingworth links
19 extension gives a fast link to Cobalt and North Shields for Killingworth and a replacement for the 335.
51 reduced timings so it can be 2 BPH with a PVR 4, only +1 when accounting for the W2 scrapping, there's no bus stops along Beaumont Road anyway.
55 extended to Backworth on a loop to serve the nibbly bits of the 51 to speed it up and connect all of Backworth.
Didn't leave Matthew Bank without a bus service or forcing the X7 to be slower than it already is.

Haven't worked out the PVR's but it has to be near identical - if not less, if accounting for all the lost links with the K1/K2 loss.