(08 Mar 2016, 10:39 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote The actual section between Cramlington and Newcastle would certainly improve with extra time given to cope with the blackspots such as Moor Farm Roundabout. But the Northern section needs absorbed into another service for this to happen which would mean no PVR increase at all.
I think you're overall idea seems sound and with some tweaking in conjunction with the 57/57A, they could probably even get rid of the 58 which might free up a driver (though I may be being too optimistic there).
You could have the X8 go Cramlington-Quorum-Newcastle, even taking the time to make the Quorum loop while the X7 ignores it.
I'd suggest though that, even in the current X8 route, services could omit Moor Farm entirely by passing the turn onto the roundabout and continuing up to Dudley Lane roundabout on the A1171 (where the X10/X11 go onto the A19) and then looping back on themselves past the Business Park and McDonalds, into Annitsford on the B1505.