Stagecoach North East: Service Suggestions

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07 Jul 2015, 9:03 am #274

(06 Jul 2015, 7:37 pm)Busman69 So how would that work? would it go from Marsden-Horsley Hill-Marsden-Seaburn-Marsden-Horsley Hill and then back towards Newcastle? Cause that seems like it would seriously increase journey times by some margin. If it were to extend to Sunderland too then that would be rather pointless as it would have to compete with the metro

(06 Jul 2015, 9:07 pm)ifm001 Does seem pointless doing Marsden - the hill- Marsden - whitburn - seaburn

Better idea would be to send alternate journeys from boldon towards seaburn via current route to ridgeway (south shields community school / king George school for non locals) forward up shields road to cleadon and then the existing 558 route to whitburn and seaburn. SNE Will never withdraw the circular link around nook marsden and horsley hill. Its been that route for 15+ years now and is busy

The loop can still remain - or it could be removed in part.

Option 1) - Current route/loop, but continues down Sunderland Road - Cleadon - Cleadon Lane etc (reverse towards Newcastle). This would see the route extend (in each direction) by approx 5mins between the Nook and Cleadon (using the 20/20a timetable) and 7mins Cleadon, Whitburn and Seaburn (using 558 timetable).

Option 2) - Or they split at the Ridgeway, with one doing a short loop (in its current 15min circle) and back and the other going via King George Road and the Nook, Sunderland Road and onto Seaburn via Cleadon and Whitburn. This would omit The Ridgeway, as I feel the Nook is an important link. I reckon that will save 15mins in each direction, as opposed to option 1.

Option 3) - As Option 2, but operates in a circle of Seaburn (serving the Metro) and operates via Cleadon, Sunderland Road, Sea Road, Seaburn Metro, Fulwell, Sea Lane circle - return.

I don't think it needs to get dizzy around Marsden at all.

I also think it would continue to offer an alternative to the metro, just as it does now.
The location of Seaburn metro versus the location of the majority of local amenities, means the metro is only likely to win for those living close to it.
Just like it is, in the Boldons.

The only suggestion about extensions to Sunderland that were mentioned, were the E services and them offering cross city links - 15mins down the A183 (and back), 15mins down the A690 (and back) etc.

Edited 07 Jul 2015, 9:08 am by Andreos1.

'Illegitimis non carborundum'