(13 Jan 2023, 8:33 pm)nova347 wrote I feel like Team Valley needs a proper connection to Newcastle on a regular basis, you could extend the 93/94, I wouldn't extend the 97 as people already complain about how long that journey is or the X71/X72 but I would extend the 1, to Team Valley Marquis Way then loop back towards Whitley Bay, this would improve links to Team Valley from Wallsend etc, you could get rid of the 91 and it would only have 2 PVR, and if the 51/52's are going back to Newcastle which I don't think they are, just debrand some of them and send them to Percy Main as Euro 6 spares, or some Versas from Depford, as if Percy Main can operate the Q3 with pretty much no problem, an extra 2 PVR on the 1 would impact driver shortages much, as it would strengthen links to North Tyneside. Not to mention you have all the Quacity Versas which 4 are already at Percy main on the 41/41A which doesn't need a Euro 6 bus and can be run by anything, so there are 4 then there are 3 others one hasn't been in Service since October, another one August then the 3rd one hasn't been on since 23rd of December, so there is plenty of Euro 6 buses to do the route.
I mean you can do the 93/94, it'll take around 23 mins to get to Newcastle and back to Gateshead with a layover increasing the PVR by 1
I'd imagine it's a bit too long via Gateshead and you'd damage the 93/94 which has it's own purpose of getting people around Gateshead.
Personally I'd look at splitting the Q3 into more routes maybe something like:
Q1 (Yutong's): Great Park - Gosforth - Jesmond - John Dobson Street (omit Haymarket) - Newcastle Quayside - Swing Bridge - The Sage - Gateshead - X66 Metro Centre (Every 15 Minutes)
Q2 (Versa's): St Peter's Basin - Newcastle Quayside - Central Station - Redheugh Bridge - Lobley Hill Road - Team Valley (Every 30 Minutes)
Q3 (Versa's): Hadrian Park - Wallsend - Walker - St Peter's Basin - Newcastle Quayside - Central Station (Every 30 Minutes)
Q3A (Versa's): Hadrian Park - Wiltshire Drive - Wallsend (Every 30 Minutes)
41/41A/91/X66: Withdrawn
53/54: Back over Tyne Bridge / High Level
The route just feels forced together now, feel the above would be more popular especially linking Gateshead Quays and the Quayside to the Metro Centre if the new arena ever opens. Not to mention links across the river from Gosforth and linking all the student accommodation and the university together, maybe discounted travel for students? The 41 and Quaycity services just seem to make sense being the same route. I'd say merge the Q2 and Q3A aswell but not sure there needs to be 2 extra buses between St Peter's Basin and Wallsend tbh. Plus you'd get the flashy electric buses running a flagship route like the X66 rather than the back waters of Walker.