(03 Dec 2023, 4:12 pm)L469 YVK wrote True although Stagecoach do have the 37 covering most of the link.

The only other thing about the 18's and 19's.......the 352/354/355 will only last so long now that most other routes cover them or alternatives can be easily adapted to cover them (i.e the X63 becoming an old 356 after the Killingworth loop). 

The 353 is a fairly strong route, but would be uneconomical 'standalone' in it's current form. So one option could be for Arriva to take that back and extend it to Morpeth in place of the 18.

Then in-turn, GNE take on the 18/19 series of routes you mention as the 18 would feed quite well into the Whitley Bay tendered services (351/359) GNE currently have.

See my idea from that would be the 18 would be pretty much fully commercial. The 57/57A is fully commercial down here and the 43 extension is commercial at least hourly aswell. 

The Bedlington section is pretty much just swapping the 43, X22 and 57 around. With the X22 doing part of the 57 and 43 and the 57 or now 18 taking over the other half of the 43. 

Tender wise it's just moving stuff around ie.

58 - 19 short extension. 
43 - 18 2 BPH Morpeth to Cramlington 
57A extension - 19 long extension. 

I have a feeling the 19 might be a bit more attractive to have a bigger PVR which serves more areas and where its based could be attractive to pretty much anyone especially GNE and Arriva. 

No point the tax payer paying for bus services that don't need to be. You have to remember the 351/359 aren't commercial either so could be ran by GCT in a few months for all we know.