(15 Mar 2018, 3:21 am)Northern4555 wrote “
The H1 was in my opinion,a red herring thrown into the south Tyneside political mix to keep councillors happy about the Hebburn bus link to South Shields hospital ,knowing full well after the 6 month  probationary period it will be removed.this is also,possibly deliberate,that the route used and late start and early afternoon Finnish,was ark ward for people to use .hospital visiting is 2-4pm and 7-8pm, yet this bus starts approx 10am and ends 2.30 pm.work that one out and come to your own conclusion. Also on hospital buses, the 26 runs ok thru day but ends from Hebburn approx 7pm.visiting times are 7-8pm.while you can get to Shields hosp for start of visiting,you cannot get home on the same direct bus to Hebburn area.this service terminates at jarrow bus station after 7pm.you have to get 2 buses home,and hang around a dark and cold bus station,which wil put a lot of people off using the bus at night.what is it with GNE,that’s two bus routes to the hospital, that they cannot get right.

The H1 could have been a useful route between Hebburn Station Road and Luke's Lane supplementing the 9 service. Go North East have prevented that from happening and thus set up the H1 to fail by running only 4 minutes behind the 9 around Hebburn. I have attempted to take the H1 from Station Road to Finchale road on several occasions but the 9 arrives first. A minor timetable adjustment could be made to slot the H1 10 minuets between 9's giving improved travel opportunities around Hebburn. I have to agree with others that this so called multi award winning bus company has set up the H1 to fail.
The only real benefit of the South Tyneside changes is a saving for Go North East on the cost of four vans that were used by drivers on the 88/88A.