(02 Jun 2016, 7:40 pm)Tom wrote Possibly - but I can't see many people sitting on a bus that will take a ridiculous amount of time getting there, and that it will take less time to change between the 1 and X66 at Gateshead.
But it will probably happen as the 11 is apparantley changing so makes sense, but would be much more popular to have it running via the Quayside, and along the centrelink.
I think it's finding the balance though. Merging two existing services, doesn't really impact on costs if frequency is to be on a similar level - as they exist already (in one guise or another).
As an example, the 35a, 71 and whatever variant existed that the 36 replaced around the North Sunderland Estates.
I agree that the Quayside route would be more attractive for those traveling North Tyneside - Metrocentre, but would the costs be higher for an operator to do that, whilst maintaining the 96?