(18 Jul 2023, 7:50 pm)Storx wrote Not going to comment on it all, but some should be swapped around imo.
308: 309 route from Newcastle to Battle Hill -> Silverlink -> 308 route to NT Hospital -> Morrisons -> Marden -> Whitley Bay (Every 30 Minutes)
X38: Same as below but 308 route in Blyth (Every 30 Minutes)
X39: 309 route from Blyth to Cobalt -> Silverlink -> Willington Quay -> Non Stop -> Newcastle (Every 30 Minutes)
X38/X39: Every 15 Minutes Combined offering express route between Cobalt and Newcastle.
The business park needs the express service if any and would give a direct service to Silverlink without having to use the horrid roundabout stops. Not to mention you'd keep the Battle Hill links to Silverlink since you've pulled the 306 out.
Totally get your point about Cobalt. But the sticking points I can see are....
- Reduction in service for Billy Mill - would still be highly used even if a more frequent alternative covering further down along Verne Road.
- Off peak.........would these generate sufficient revenue missing Billy Mill and instead operating via Cobalt & Silverlink?
- Traffic.....Cobalt South and Mallard Way can get severely congested on occasions and in some cases total gridlock. That's not to say the slip roads don't, but at least going via Billy Mill would allow something like the following worst case............
"Severe congestion at Silverlink, X38 omitting Silverlink. Catch service 306 instead and change at Willington Square or Norham Road".
And when the Silverlink gets congested, so does Middle Engine Lane towards Battle Hill.