(30 Dec 2018, 10:56 pm)xpm wrote It's an interesting one this - when I first read it, I thought no way - but on second glance maybe there's some potential mileage in it.
Running through to Gateshead though - there really isn't the footfall to justify it - it would be better to terminate, and catch one of the many connections from the Metrocentre. You're also just asking for timetable issues with traffic at peak time trying to compete along the already congested corridors back/forth from Gateshead to the Metrocentre.
Depends how you want to take in Throckley - either from the Heddon end, or how else do you catch Throckley without doing some sort of loop?
It would also put it in competition with the X84/X85/10. Passenger loyalty on the whole through Throckley usually comes down to which bus comes first, and it's still quite a Stagecoach stronghold.
The route would kill old buses very quickly - there's a lot of dual carriageway driving on that route at top speed, and the ride would be none to comfortable either.
Frequency - not a chance for 20 mins - hourly service would be more than adequate, assuming the trip could be made realistically in an hour with a PVR of 2.
I don't mind hourly