(21 May 2023, 9:35 pm)L469 YVK wrote Yeah, I can see where you're coming from with the 51 although commercially, I do think the 307 would be a success via Wiltshire Drive with strong points of the route either side supporting it.
Wiltshire Drive & Hadrian Park are tricky to get right. One is a pain to get in / out off. The other could easily be served as part of the Coast Road network, but it's a question of what happens with the Benton Rise - Whitley Bay section of route.
An extension of the 38 half hourly via Benton Park Road, Whitley Road and East Benton Rise to Holystone Park / Northumberland Park then hourly via the 51 route to Whitley Bay would be a shout. But would a decker be "too much" especially between Holystone Park and Whitley Bay.
Aye some fair points. See personally I still think there's too many buses between South Beach and New York. A bus along there every 10 minutes is just complete overkill and I'd be surprised if they're making money especially now with the reduced fares so the X7/X8 are now competitive. Most people from Whitley Bay / Hillheads will use the Metro so I'm not sure what it's really serving.
Especially considering areas around it have next to no bus service at all. Obviously they're both commercial so you can't do much but if things become franchised are they really needed.
There's as many buses through Seaton Sluice than there is through Low Fell nowadays which is just bonkers.