(16 Apr 2024, 2:14 pm)Lewis1509 wrote Would absolutely never happen at all in a million years, its a massive reach but I've thought of a cool route, just thinking of bus spotters instead of actual customers lol

Merge Stagecoach 18 with GNE 19 and 317 to operate a giant loop service

Clockwise trips would continue to run as 317 and anticlockwise trips to run as 318, also operating via Monkseaton to connect Whitley Bay with Northumberland Park. To connect the 18 with the 317, either operate it the former route to Wallsend or just the 12 route.

Cramlington to North Shields 19 trips would still run as of now, as a Service 319.

Evening trips on all services would run as normal, however I'm not too sure what to do about the numbering. 317 could operate from Whitley Bay to Wallsend as the 317, and the returning trip as a 318 maybe? Then evening 18 trips could stay as the 18 (similar to the 54 and 354).

Not sure on the point of that one personally. I always think the 317/57/57A/19 should all work together rather than what we've got now where everything is bouncing around each.

So you'd end up with something like:


Would give better round service and link the important places with Ashington gaining links to Cobalt instead of the 57/57A corridor with both routes every 30 minutes in their Southern sections (hourly services are useless).

If you wanted to create a loop, you could do this though with the 353, remaining part of the 317, Q3 and 18.

SNE should also look at an express version of the current 10 and 11.  I am aware that the Jarrow to North Shields is bound by Nexus to operate every 30 mins, perhaps linking in express and standard service could achieve this

Revised 10 and 11. 
Every 30 mins South Shields via curent route to Low Simonside. Then extend every hour to Jarrow and North Shields.

New X10 and X11

Hourly, South Shields - Laygate - Tyne Dock - Simonside - Valley View - Jarrow - Percy Main - Royal Quays - North Shields.

(16 Apr 2024, 5:47 pm)LVK 404L wrote SNE should also look at an express version of the current 10 and 11.  I am aware that the Jarrow to North Shields is bound by Nexus to operate every 30 mins, perhaps linking in express and standard service could achieve this

Revised 10 and 11. 
Every 30 mins South Shields via curent route to Low Simonside. Then extend every hour to Jarrow and North Shields.

New X10 and X11

Hourly, South Shields - Laygate - Tyne Dock - Simonside - Valley View - Jarrow - Percy Main - Royal Quays - North Shields.

I think most people would just take the ferry.

What I think would be better service is

New Service X40 cobalt SouthTyne Express

Jarrow Bus Station -Through Tunnel - A19 North - off At Northumberland Park (Holystone) junction - stop at Toby shops then Northumberland Park Metro- then down to Cobalt - Silverlink (stop back of cinema) down bus only lane through Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate -Percy Main Metro -Royal Quays - then Bus only lane into Tyne Tunnel -Jarrow

Creating links south of Tyne to Cobalt as well as a quicker version of getting from Jarrow Metro Northumberland Park metro and Percy Main and back to Jarrow Metro stations as well as hitting key working areas

It would also link with 307/309 /19/22 /Corridor and when the new line comes in a quicker link from Jarrow(south of Tyne) to Ashington

(17 Apr 2024, 3:43 am)deanmachine wrote I think most people would just take the ferry.

Depends on what ticket you have.

If you have a SNE only pass, you may not opt for the ferry and stick with bus.  Also depends on whereabouts on route you are.

(17 Apr 2024, 6:42 am)LVK 404L wrote Depends on what ticket you have.

If you have a SNE only pass, you may not opt for the ferry and stick with bus.  Also depends on whereabouts on route you are.

Better to sort the ticketing problem out there though.

The Tunnel service should be connected to the 9 imo, the 10/11 is a dog leg route and there's nothing to note on either side why you'd want to use it.

Personally I'd always love to see the 57A from Ashington to Cramlington, 19 from Cramlington to Percy Main then the 9 from Jarrow to Sunderland all bolted together as one long route giving decent cross Tyne links and a reasonable link between Northumberland Park / Percy Main / Jarrow and Fellgate Metro stations.

People from Jarrow might actually want to go to Cobalt and Silverlink if a decent link was provided.

Thinking of a tinker around with services 3/4 in South Shields, and New services E3 South Shields - Biddick Hall - Whiteleas - Cleadon - Fulwell Grange - Sunderland

E4 Sunderland - Fulwell Grange - Cleadon - Whiteleas - Biddick Hall - South Shields

Existing 3 and 4 revised to operate every 30 minutes with additional new aervices E3 and E4 also every 30 minutes giving combined 15 min service South Shields - West Harton - Biddick Hall - Ridgeway (services E3/E4 extend to/from Sunderland via Cleadon, Fullwell Grange amd Wheatsheaf ,combining with GNE service 24, with a service every 15 mins Cleadon - Sunderland.

X39/X40 running limited stop along Shields Road and the West Road at peak times?

Are the 1, 10/11, 12, 37/38, 39/40 and 62/63 in Newcastle/North Tyneside, not busy enough to warrant X1, X10/X11, X12, 37X/38X, X39/X40 or X62/X63 variations all day or at peak times?

What are the chances of Stagecoach losing the 32/32A or 35 in the March changes?

Go North East might benefit from extending the 352/355 to Gateshead to compete with the 37/38.

I guess the 684 won't ever go back to 2 BPH?

(08 Aug 2024, 8:43 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote X39/X40 running limited stop along Shields Road and the West Road at peak times?

I would wish this would happen but I don’t think Walkergate has enough buses for it but it would definitely reduce the time it takes from the top of shields road to west end!

(25 Aug 2024, 8:44 pm)BusEnthusiast.com wrote I would wish this would happen but I don’t think Walkergate has enough buses for it but it would definitely reduce the time it takes from the top of shields road to west end!

All 39/40s could run limited stop as X39/X40. No extra buses required. Shields Road and West Road would be good opportunities for speeding up journey times. 

Given the popularity of Stagecoach Newcastle routes, I'm surprised more express services haven't been introduced.

(25 Aug 2024, 8:53 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote All 39/40s could run limited stop as X39/X40. No extra buses required. Shields Road and West Road would be good opportunities for speeding up journey times. 

Given the popularity of Stagecoach Newcastle routes, I'm surprised more express services haven't been introduced.

And what about all the passengers who presumably currently slow the journey down by boarding/alighting at the stops your X would cut out?

(25 Aug 2024, 7:32 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Are the 1, 10/11, 12, 37/38, 39/40 and 62/63 in Newcastle/North Tyneside, not busy enough to warrant X1, X10/X11, X12, 37X/38X, X39/X40 or X62/X63 variations all day or at peak times?

What are the chances of Stagecoach losing the 32/32A or 35 in the March changes?

Go North East might benefit from extending the 352/355 to Gateshead to compete with the 37/38.

I guess the 684 won't ever go back to 2 BPH?

To be fair most of these kind of already exist.

X1 = No real benefit the routes too short
X10/X11 = The 10/11 already are express on the Northern side and again otherside they're too short
X12 = Same as the X1
X37 = Arriva X7/X8/X10/X11, depending on location
X38 = Metro
X39/X40 = Metro to Wallsend and Byker, X82/684/685 on the Western side
X62/X63 = X63 already exists

I personally can't really see anywhere, where an express would work. I could be tempted to say swap the 71/72/87 and 63 around in the Fenham area though, 63 via Central Motorway, the others through Fenham. Might help both as one is dying and the other is too busy, with the 62/63 running non-stop between Cowgate and St James' Park

(25 Aug 2024, 7:32 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Go North East might benefit from extending the 352/355 to Gateshead to compete with the 37/38.

I don't get why this would need to happen. It would make absolutely no sense and does Gateshead really need more buses from Newcastle. There's so many plus the 352/355 cross the metro a bit so no need. 

Competition with the 37/38 is pointless as the 37/38 connect with Central Station & west end of Newcastle. Why would gne compete with it. If anything the 37 was brought in cause the 352 misses out half the 52 route and the timings & the 38 was extended to Forest Hall due to no link from Meadway Estate to Four Lane Ends anymore as the 355 doesn't go via Four Lane Ends anymore. 

There is no reason at all for what you said as non of it makes sense.

(25 Aug 2024, 7:32 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Go North East might benefit from extending the 352/355 to Gateshead to compete with the 37/38.

Btw on that, they should merge the 57 and 355 together imo. It means they can get arid of the 352 completely and up the 353 back upto every 30 minutes instead, it was always the busiest out the 3 routes and would benefit being 30 minutes again imo. The other 2 have always been a bit of a basketcase in comparison. What to do with the 354, who knows - merge it with the 359 maybe?

It's impossible currently to get shot of the 352 currently because of the 352/353/354/355 interworking pattern and the 355 should exist.

(26 Aug 2024, 10:06 am)Storx wrote Btw on that, they should merge the 57 and 355 together imo. It means they can get arid of the 352 completely and up the 353 back upto every 30 minutes instead, it was always the busiest out the 3 routes and would benefit being 30 minutes again imo. The other 2 have always been a bit of a basketcase in comparison. What to do with the 354, who knows - merge it with the 359 maybe?

It's impossible currently to get shot of the 352 currently because of the 352/353/354/355 interworking pattern and the 355 should exist.

The 352 duplicates almost all of the 37 in full! Except for a small part. The 352/355 will never compete with 37/38 as they don’t run evenings and Sundays. 355 could be made better but 352 is pointless as it is

(26 Aug 2024, 6:44 pm)Coastliner700 wrote The 352 duplicates almost all of the 37 in full! Except for a small part. The 352/355 will never compete with 37/38 as they don’t run evenings and Sundays. 355 could be made better but 352 is pointless as it is

Aye totally, agreed. The 354/359 are too samey aswell if you ask me, I'd much rather have the 353 being every 30 minutes over the 354 personally at the Eastern side.

The 57 merger was just for drivers really more than anything since it's quite well used the 355 whenever I see it to be fair.

(26 Aug 2024, 8:09 pm)Storx wrote Aye totally, agreed. The 354/359 are too samey aswell if you ask me, I'd much rather have the 353 being every 30 minutes over the 354 personally at the Eastern side.

The 57 merger was just for drivers really more than anything since it's quite well used the 355 whenever I see it to be fair.

Living in Forest Hall working many long/varied shifts the 38 would always have the edge. With a pass much more connections than one single GNE bus that doesn’t operate evenings or Sundays. If they could sort that out then maybe it would be a consideration

(27 Aug 2024, 7:03 am)Coastliner700 wrote Living in Forest Hall working many long/varied shifts the 38 would always have the edge. With a pass much more connections than one single GNE bus that doesn’t operate evenings or Sundays. If they could sort that out then maybe it would be a consideration

Aye I get that, not going to lie. I'd be the same. Well I'd probably be tempted to do the walk to Benton / Palmersville for the Metro like I know a fair few do around there.

(25 Aug 2024, 10:20 pm)Storx wrote To be fair most of these kind of already exist.

X1 = No real benefit the routes too short
X10/X11 = The 10/11 already are express on the Northern side and again otherside they're too short
X12 = Same as the X1
X37 = Arriva X7/X8/X10/X11, depending on location
X38 = Metro
X39/X40 = Metro to Wallsend and Byker, X82/684/685 on the Western side
X62/X63 = X63 already exists

I personally can't really see anywhere, where an express would work. I could be tempted to say swap the 71/72/87 and 63 around in the Fenham area though, 63 via Central Motorway, the others through Fenham. Might help both as one is dying and the other is too busy, with the 62/63 running non-stop between Cowgate and St James' Park

Thinking back, did they not re-route the 63 via Netherby Drive when they reduced the frequency of the 36?  I'd revert the 63 back to what it was previously - Fenham Hall Drive and then along Two Ball Lonnen to Cowgate Morrisons.

(27 Aug 2024, 11:50 am)Chris 1 wrote Thinking back, did they not re-route the 63 via Netherby Drive when they reduced the frequency of the 36?  I'd revert the 63 back to what it was previously - Fenham Hall Drive and then along Two Ball Lonnen to Cowgate Morrisons.

Not too sure if I had to be honest, possibly though.

(27 Aug 2024, 11:50 am)I Chris 1 wrote Thinking back, did they not re-route the 63 via Netherby Drive when they reduced the frequency of the 36?  I'd revert the 63 back to what it was previously - Fenham Hall Drive and then along Two Ball Lonnen to Cowgate Morrisons.

(27 Aug 2024, 12:10 pm)Storx wrote Not too sure if I had to be honest, possibly though.

I’m not sure either but I’d think the 62/63 via Stamfordham Road via current 62 route and 71/72/87 via Fenham Hall Drive a better shout

(27 Aug 2024, 7:03 am)Coastliner700 wrote Living in Forest Hall working many long/varied shifts the 38 would always have the edge. With a pass much more connections than one single GNE bus that doesn’t operate evenings or Sundays. If they could sort that out then maybe it would be a consideration

Know that feeling, im from Forest Hall, and for the 15 years i lived there, the choice of bus became thinner

90's- 38, 64/64A, 319, 323, 343/344, 355, M52/M53, M55

00's- 18/19 (19 withdrawn 06/07), 63, 81 (withdrawn 2010), 319 (withdrawn 2007), 343/344 (343 withdrawn 2010, 344 withdrawn 08/09) , 355 (withdrawn 2010), M55 (withdrawn 2010)

10's- 6/7 (withdrawn F.L.E- Forest Hall 19/20), 17 (withdrawn 2016), 18 (withdrawn Benton- Forest Hall 2016), 42/42A, 53/53A (53A withdrawn 2013), 55, 63, 353 (withdrawn 2017), K3 (withdrawn 19/20)

20's- 38, 42/42A (withdrawn 2022, 42A had also been re-routed), 53 (withdrawn 2023), 55 (withdrawn 2023), 63, 335 (re-routed 2023), 353, 355

2024- 38, 63, 342, 353, 355

(27 Aug 2024, 11:50 am)Chris 1 wrote Thinking back, did they not re-route the 63 via Netherby Drive when they reduced the frequency of the 36?  I'd revert the 63 back to what it was previously - Fenham Hall Drive and then along Two Ball Lonnen to Cowgate Morrisons.

I believe the 63 got changed when due to traffic reasons (this was before Cowgate roundabout got demolished and turned into what it is today) the decrease of the 36 didn't come until COVID when the 30/31 got decreased as the 36 runs off the 30