(04 Apr 2024, 1:25 pm)Lewis1509 wrote Yeah, I don't even live in any of those areas but I use the 317 very often to get to North Shields (or I used to until GNE made it sh*te), and I never understood that the only bus that goes through those areas don't go to Newcastle. 

My idea would be to either extend the 317 to Newcastle or swap the routes around with the 1 between Wallsend and Howdon for Holy Cross residents. Can't say the same for Preston though, as it would probably be alot quicker to change at Whitley or Shields for another direct bus (306/7/8/9), or even a Metro.

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I didn't expect GNE to run the 317 that badly to be honest, considering it used to be a GNE route over a decade ago. And even when they withdrew the original 317, they still had other services serving the exact same route in certain places. 

I heard from a Walkergate driver that they're subcontracting the 317 to someone else. However, with that being said, said bus driver is notorious for talking absolute waffle as confirmed by other Walkergate drivers.

Another factor is, how would a Walkergate driver know so much about GNEs behind the scenes.

Wasnt even a decade ago, it was GNE up until the withdrawl of the 11, before that it was the 17, a back further it was the original 317, also a bus for them to Newcastle would probably be useful, but i wouldnt mess with the 1 and 317, i'd re-route the 354, Billy Mill doesnt need 2 buses to North Shields, Shiremoor,New York and Billy Mill have the 353 which would benefit better if that went half hourly again, but im not going to make this another service suggestions thread, i'll post what my suggestion in there, see what you think