(12 Apr 2022, 9:13 pm)Malarkey wrote With Service Cuts seeming to becoming the new norm here in the North East I have had a look through the Go North East Network to see if some of services could be consolidated into others improving local services in terms of recovering passenger numbers following on from Covid-19, the method of consolidation worked in parts when Go North East had a massive shake up of it's services in 2006 and is clearly needed again some 16 years later given how much services have been chopped and changed. I guess I have done the same you say but in turn also provided a more stable network of services in the long term. I have spent quite a few hours over the past week working on these whilst also throwing in some throwback services of the late 80's/90's into the early 00's reinstating some long lost local links.

So here is a lengthy list of suggestions.

1 - Whitley Bay - Cullercoats - Tynemouth - North Shields - Howdon - Wallsend - Byker - Newcastle - Gateshead - Felling Square - Windy Nook - Whitehills Estate - Leam Lane Estate – Heworth – Wardley
• Merging of services “Coaster 1 & East Gateshead Rider 58” into one route operating Every 20 Minutes Monday to Sunday providing a Cross-City Links from Gateshead to The Coast.
• Current Route 58 is withdrawn.

X1 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Queen Elizabeth Hospital - Wrekenton - Springwell Village - Washington - Shiney Row - Houghton-le-Spring - Hetton-le-Hole - Easington Lane
• Operates Every 20 Minutes Monday to Saturday and Hourly on a Sunday between Newcastle and Easington Lane only.
• Section of the route between Hetton-Le-Hole and Dalton Park/Peterlee revised under the new X3.

2/2A - Sunderland - Royal Hospital - Grindon - Hastings Hill - Penshaw - Fatfield - Harraton  - Ayton – Lambton – Washington - Biddick (2) - Glebe (2A) - Washington Village (2A) - Barmston Court (2A) - Barmston - Peel Retail Park (2) – Concord
2B - Sunderland - Royal Hospital - Grindon - Hastings Hill - Penshaw – Fatfield – Biddick – Washington – Oxclose – Blackfell – Concord
• Merging of Sunderland District Berries & Washington’s Little Pinks Network into one whole set of services without the need to change buses, in turn opening new and improved links from Washington to Sunderland.
• Services 2/2A/2B will operate Every 10 Minutes combined Monday to Saturday and Every 20 Minutes combined on a Sunday, this will see the withdrawal of Little Pinks Services 84/85.
• The Sunderland section of the current 2/2A will be replaced by Services 33/33A which will provide a clockwise/anti-clockwise loop between Sunderland and Silksworth.
• Existing 2/2A Services Withdrawn.

X2 – Newcastle – Gateshead – Q.E. Hospital – Wrekenton – Springwell – Washington – Penshaw – Grindon – Royal Hospital – Sunderland
• Service X2 is reinstated many years after it was withdrawn and will operate Every 30 Minutes Monday to Saturday and Hourly on a Sunday.

X3 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Queen Elizabeth Hospital - Wrekenton - Springwell Village - Washington - Shiney Row - Houghton-le-Spring - Hetton-le-Hole - Easington Lane – Murton - Dalton Park – Peterlee
• Renumbered from X1 to separate route variations to Dalton Park and Peterlee.
• Section of Service from Dalton Park will be extended to Peterlee and will operate Every 30 Minutes Monday to Sunday.
• Section of the current X1 from Hetton-Le-Hole to Peterlee will be withdrawn as it is already covered by Service 55.

X6 – Middlesbrough  – Billingham – Station Town - Wingate - Peterlee - Dalton Park - Spectrum Business Park - Seaham - Grangetown – Sunderland
• Service extended Hourly from Peterlee to Middlesbrough reinstating old links from when the old X7 and X9 were withdrawn.
• Service will continue to operate Hourly as it does now.

8 - Waldridge - Garden Farm Estate - Chester-le-Street - Pelton - Ouston - Urpeth Grange - Birtley - Portobello - Ayton - Lambton - Washington - Glebe - Washington Village - Barmston Court – Teal Farm - Waterview Park – Castletown – Sunderland
• Country Ranger Service 8 will be revised and will merge with Little Pinks Service 82 from Washington Galleries to Birtley and will then be extended from Birtley to merge with Service 34 through to Waldridge Park creating several new local links.
• The Current section of Service 8 between Washington Galleries and Chester-Le-Street will be replaced by the revised Service 50 so that current links are maintained.
• Service 8 will operate Every 30 Minutes Monday to Sundays.
• Service 8/34 & 82 Withdrawn.

X8 - Stanley - Beamish - Grange Villa - Pelton - Chester-le-Street - Washington - Waterview Park - Royal Hospital – Sunderland
• Service X8 will be reintroduced covering the section of current Service 8 between Stanley and Chester-Le-Street maintaining current links whilst also providing a faster express service from Chester-Le-Street to Sunderland via Washington, Service X8 will run Every 30 Minutes. Monday to Saturday and Hourly on a Sunday.

9 - Whitley Bay – New York – Cobalt Business Park – Silverlink – Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate - Jarrow – South Leam – Valley View - Boldon Colliery - West Boldon - East Boldon - Fulwell – Sunderland
• Current Service 9 will be extended from Jarrow through to Whitley Bay via Silverlink & Cobalt opening new business and retail links from North of the Tyne.
• Service 9 will continue to operate its current frequency Every 30 Minutes Monday to Sundays.

11 - Tyne View Retail Park - Prudhoe - Crawcrook - Ryton - Blaydon - Metrocentre – Newcastle
• Service 10B will be renumbered 11, no other changes to the Service.

20 - Durham - Gilesgate - Belmont - West Rainton - East Rainton - Houghton-le-Spring - East Herrington – Sunderland
• Service revised to operate between Durham and Sunderland only with links maintained to South Shields via the revised service 60.
• Service 20 will operate Every 15 Minutes Monday to Saturday and Every 30 Minutes on a Sunday.

21 – Howlands Park & Ride – Durham University - Durham - Framwellgate Moor - Arnison Centre - Plawsworth - Chester-le-Street - Birtley - Low Fell - Gateshead – Newcastle
• Section of route between Durham & Brandon replaced by the X22.
• Service extended via N21 Route to Durham University and further to Howlands Park & Ride
• Service 21 will continue to operate to current frequency for the runs which operate to Durham.

X22 – Newcastle – Gateshead – Low Fell – Chester-Le-Street – Durham – Langley Moor - Brandon – Brancepeth – Crook – Bishop Auckland – Staindrop – Barnard Castle
• New Service X22 will operate Hourly Monday to Sundays replacing the 21 runs to Brandon.
• The Service will be extended from Brandon to Barnard Castle via Crook and Bishop Auckland opening several new links.

X23 - Newcastle – Gateshead – Low Fell – Chester-Le-Street – Durham – Langley Moor - Brandon – Brancepeth – Crook – Bishop Auckland – Shildon – Aycliffe Village – Darlington
• New Service X23 will operate Hourly Monday to Sundays replacing the 21 runs to Brandon.
• The Service will be extended from Brandon to Darlington via Crook and Bishop Auckland opening several new links.

X28 - Seaham - Northlea - Seaton - Houghton-le-Spring - Fence Houses - Great Lumley - Chester-le-Street  – Birtley – Wrekenton – Q.E. Hospital – Gateshead – Newcastle
• New Service X28 will be introduced replacing existing service 71 which will be withdrawn with the service also seeing an extension through to Newcastle.
• Operates Hourly Monday to Sunday.

29 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Saltwell Road - Low Fell - Kibblesworth - Birtley - Ouston - Perkinsville - Pelton - Beamish - Grange Villa - Pelton Fell - Chester-le-Street
• Daytime Services 28A/29 will be merged with Evening Service 28B and will operate via the 28A/28B route running between Gateshead and Low Fell via Saltwell Road and Belle Vue Bank.
• The Service will operate Every 30 Minutes Monday to Saturday and Hourly on a Sunday.

30 - Stanley - Acton Dene - Sheridan Drive - Stanley Hall Estate – Craghead – Quaking Houses – South Moor – Stanley
• Services 30/31 merged providing one service which will additionally serve Craghead improving local links in Stanley,
• The Service will operate Hourly Monday to Sunday

33/33A - Silksworth - Hollycarrside - Grangetown - Sunderland - Barnes Park – Silksworth
• The Sunderland section of the current 2/2A will be replaced by Services 33/33A which will provide a clockwise/anti-clockwise loop between Sunderland and Silksworth.
• The revised 33/33A will operate Every 15 Minutes in both directions Monday to Saturday and Every 30 Minutes on a Sunday.
• Current Service 2/2A withdrawn.

35 - South Shields – Tyne Dock - Jarrow – Hebburn – Lukes Lane Estate – Fellgate – Hedworth - Boldon – Town End Farm - Castletown - Southwick – Sunderland
• Service 35 will be revised to operate its current route between Sunderland and Boldon with the service then extended from Boldon following the 5 route to Jarrow with additional extension via Tyne Dock to South Shields.
• Service 35 will operate Every 30 Minutes Monday to Sunday.
• Service 5 withdrawn with revised service 50 replacing Boldon to South Shields section of the route.
• The Section of the current 35 between Sunderland and Low Moorsley will be replaced by revised service 55.

X45/X46 - Newcastle - Metrocentre - Rowlands Gill - Shotley Bridge - Consett – Delves
• Service extended from Consett to Delves replacing Services V1/V2 which will be withdrawn.
• Services X45/X46 will operate Every 15 Minutes Monday to Saturday and Every 30 Minutes on Sundays.

48 - Consett - Number One - Shotley Bridge Hospital - The Dene – Hamsterley – Blackhall Mill – Rockwood Hill – Prudhoe – Crawcrook – Ryton – Blaydon – MetroCentre - Newcastle
• New Service 48 will replace the current V3 Service between Consett and The Dene which will be withdrawn, from The Dene the service will be extended to Newcastle via Blackhall Mill, Rockwood Hill and Blaydon replacing service 10A which will be withdrawn.
• Service 48 will operate Every 30 Minutes Monday to Saturday and Hourly on a Sunday.
• Service 10A/V3 Withdrawn.

50 - South Shields – Westoe - Chichester – South Tyneside Hospital – Whiteleas Estate - Boldon Colliery - Nissan - Concord - Washington – Biddick – Harraton – Rickleton – Picktree - Chester-le-Street
• Current Service 50 will serve a revised route between South Shields and Boldon following the route of Service 5 which will be withdrawn, from Boldon the 50 will follow its current route to Washington Galleries where it will be again follow a revised route via Harraton, Rickleton and Picktree replacing existing service 8.
• Service 50 will operate Monday to Sunday Every 30 Minutes and only as far as Chester-Le-Street as it does currently on a Sunday.

X50 – Durham – Framwellgate Moor – Arnison Centre – Waldridge Park - Chester-Le-Street – Washington Galleries – Boldon – South Shields
• New Service X50 will be introduced providing fast links from South Shields to Durham via Washington Galleries, The Service will operate Every 30 Minutes Monday to Saturday and Hourly on a Sunday.
• Service X50 will also cover the existing section of Service 50 between Chester-Le-Street and Durham.

55 - Sunderland - Royal Hospital - Durham Road - Silksworth - East Herrington - Houghton-le-Spring - Hetton-le-Hole - Low Moorsley – Low Pittington – High Pittington – Easington Village – Peterlee
• Service 55 will be merged with Service 35 providing one local service between Sunderland and Peterlee.
• Service 55 will operate Every 30 Minutes Monday to Sunday.
• Current Service 35 Withdrawn

X56 – Sunderland – Stadium Of Light – Southwick – Hylton Castle – Heworth - Gateshead – Newcastle
• Service X56 will be introduced to provide fast links from Sunderland to Newcastle.
• The service will operate Every 30 Minutes Monday to Saturday and Hourly on a Sunday.

57 - Newcastle – Gateshead – Q.E. Hospital – Beacon Lough Estate – Whitehills Estate – Leam Lane Estate - Heworth – Fellgate – Hedworth – South Tyneside Hospital Chichester – South Shields
• Service 57 will be extended from Heworth to South Shields merging with current service 26 reinstating old links.
• Service 57 will no longer serve Wardley and will run non-stop from Heworth to Fellgate with the Heworth to Wardley section replaced by the revised Service 1.
• The 57 will operate Every 20 Minutes Monday to Saturday and Every 30 Minutes on Sundays.
• Service 26 Withdrawn.

60 – Parkside – Dawdon – Seaham – New Seaham - Ryhope – Grangetown - Sunderland - Fulwell - Cleadon - Harton Nook - South Shields
• Service 60 will be extended from Sunderland to South Shields replacing current Service 20 which is revised to operate Durham to Sunderland only.
• Service 60 will operate Every 10 Minutes Monday to Saturday and Every 20 Minutes on a Sunday.

65 - Sunderland – Grangetown – Ryhope - Seaham - New Seaham -Dalton Park - Murton - Hetton-le-Hole - Low Moorsley - Low Pittington - Belmont – Durham
• Services 61 and 65 will be merged to provide Cross-City Links between Sunderland and Durham via Dalton Park.
• Service 65 will operate Every 20 Minutes Monday to Saturday and Every 30 Minutes on a Sunday.

97 - Newcastle Market Street - Gateshead - Bensham - Lobley Hill Estate - Whickham - Fellside Park - Swalwell - Metrocentre - Metrocentre ASDA
• Service additionally serves Lobley Hill Estate replacing service X72 otherwise will operate as it currently does.

327 - DFDS Ferry Terminal - Newcastle Central Station – Newcastle Airport
• Extended to serve Newcastle Airport opening new connections between Ferry, Air, Local & Regional Rail/Coach Service along with local Public Transport Services.
• The 327 will continue operating it’s usual timetable to DFDS Ferry Terminal and will operate Every 20 Minutes from Central Station to the Airport Monday to Sunday.
• Partnerships will be set up with local Rail/Air/Bus Operators to provide discounted fares on 327 similarly to how current Partnerships work with DFDS and Plusbus.

X72 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Lobley Hill - Sunniside - Burnopfield - Dipton - Annfield Plain - Stanley
• Service will no longer serve Lobley Hill Estate and will be replaced by Service 97, Service X72 will pick up at Lobley Hill Bank Top/Coach Road Stops otherwise no changes to route or frequency.