(15 Jun 2016, 3:43 pm)Dan wrote Bit like the 20 from South Shields all the way to Durham, though.
Those that use the service from terminus to terminus will definitely be in the minority, and it's mainly all about providing local links in between those locations.
In this instance, I'd imagine that there'll be a number of people in Byker and Walkergate who will use the direct bus all the way through to the Metrocentre, to avoid the hassle of having to change buses at Newcastle or Gateshead, even if service 11 is slower than service 1 with a connection to the X66.
To be fair from Walkergate to Metrocentre it is nearly an hour, but getting the 1/11 to Gateshead, then getting the X66 would take nearly 20 minutes shorter. But you're probably right, people will use it but it'll mainly be OAPs.
The best thing about the changes though is 10 buses a hour to Newcastle from Wallsend, more than double there is now, and a new link to Quayside which I am sure will be very popular. Just hope they allow North Tyne day saver on though.