(12 Feb 2023, 12:16 pm)Storx wrote Not aware as far as I know. It'll cause problems though as it's slots interworking where the other 54 was so unless they made a 75/135 minute round trip then problems were going to come and that's pretty much Shiremoor Metro anyway.

If Arriva is going for the tender it made sense to keep them together, it was a bizarre move imo and benefited no-one. Heck even withdraw the W2 altogether since it's walking distance to other buses anyway and is pointless in comparison.

To be honest, a re-increased 55 between Newcastle and Forest Hall (every 15-20 mins) with an hourly extension to Whitley Bay would've made more sense with GNE picking up Wiltshire Drive to Newcastle.

Unless GNE, Arriva and Nexus have other plans, a big trick has been missed to use this as an opportunity to sort the Coast Road out with a clean 5 minute service & joint ticketing.

With an extended 55, options could've been.....

Option 1:
- 22 - every 20 minutes to Cobalt and every 20 to Hadrian Park
- 306 - every 20 minutes and omitting Battle Hill
- 308 - every 20 minutes
- 309 - every 20 minutes and via High Farm
- 310 - every 20 minutes and via Wiltshire Drive

Option 2:
- 306 - every 20 minutes and omitting Battle Hill
- 308 - every 20 minutes
- 309 - every 30 minutes and via High Farm
- 310 - every 30 minutes and via Cobalt (combined 10/20 frequency with 309)
- 311 - every 30 minutes with Hadrian Park kept on the Coast Road network but via Wiltshire Drive