(06 Jul 2023, 10:57 am)Storx wrote There's way too much transport between Blyth / Whitley Bay and Newcastle via Seaton Sluice.308 is still popular because at least it is a direct route unlike the tedious 309 and 306. certainly Marden, Preston Grange, New York the Metro is of little or no use. It needs an express bus along the Coast Rd. to tempt people out of their cars like the 44 used to.
There's absolutely no need for 6 buses and 12 metro trains an hour between Whitley Bay and Newcastle. It doesn't need more along there, the 308 just isn't needed imo - it's just a legacy route from yesteryear before Cobalt was built. That was more about making the 306 actually useful (same again way too much transport between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay, 6 buses and 6 Metro's doing the same area give or take).
That was about linking more areas and creating better links to the local area but creating a loop, ie. Marden to NT Hospital for example.
The diagram below probably shows it better (Red: 80/80A, Blue: 81/82, Green: 83/84, Pink: 57/57A), (Thick Line: Every 15 Minutes, Thin Line: Every 30 Minutes).
RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2