I think tbe big  concern with the possibility of majority of services terminating at Gateshead compared to 'years gone by' is, there is no longer the all day redline metro Pelaw to Benton.  At present you would be adding loads of passengers to already overloaded metro services, perhaps just for 1 or 2 stops, but id not want to go from havong a seat on a bus to the squash that is a busy metro.  Bring the Pealw to Benton extras back all day and it would be a consideration.