(08 Jan 2022, 3:31 pm)logidoodah wrote 6/7/8 have done their job well over the years providing links between most places in Newcastle.
It is an interesting pair of routes because they essentially take people to/from the Metrocentre from most of the city as they go to West/North/NorthEast Newcastle it's also cheaper for those to sit on a bus longer than have to change to the 100 (or currently GNE or train)
For you're second point how are you going to cover the already crowding issues at peaks?
I'd make the the E1/E2/E6/X24/X24A terminate at Park Lane to provide links with the corresponding GNE services such as 20 (for the E's) and the 56 (for the X24/X24A) plus the metro. There are currently a few empty stands so stand R the E's could go to as it's next to the 20 to S.Shields. And the X24 could go the same stand as the 56.
Yes they do get VERY BUSY especially at peaks they loads get on/off in city centre as that's essentially 2 separate travel corridors with quite a few people going accross 'the boundary' of the city centre. And I would bring the 64 back between West Denton and Four Lane Ends even as a single decker as anything that could relieve these routes would be good.
What do you mean cheaper to sit on a bus for longer than change to GNE or train? Stagecoach tickets are valid on GNE from Newcastle to Metrocentre. Could the 6/7 get decker at peaks?
Maybe the 20 and E1/E2/E6 and 56 and X24/X24A will be integrated better with the BSIP.
I never really notice passenger numbers on the 62/63, but expected they would still be really busy and could do with a 61 or 64 and maybe an express service to increase capacity. Maybe the 68 could be utilised to spread passengers out too.
Arriva could run the 62/63 in the future.