Had a think about this and will post an excel draft over the weekend. If the X32 was dropped, the low height issue could be resolved only needing a PVR of 4x. Something like this..........

- X30 - Current X32 route (from 21st July)
- X31 - Current X30 route
- X70 - Current X70 route (from 21st July)
- X71 - Current X71 route (from 21st July)

- X73 - Current X73 route (from 21st July)

- Evening & Sunday X72 - No change

Basically, 0's via Gateshead and 1's via Whickham & Dunston with even headways maintained for all services (either 10/20, 20/40 or every 30 mins) at common points.

Patterns would be (starting from Consett):
X71 > X31 > X31 > X71 (PVR 4x - low height)

X70 > X30 > X73 > X73 > X30 > X70 (PVR 7x - full height)

Note that there'd be a 25 min layover either side of the X73....but this wouldn't be a bad thing given the unpredictability of traffic around the MetroCentre and would also compensate if any late running off earlier X70 or X30 trips.

X71/X31 would have most reliefs at Consett. X30/X70/X73 would be a mix but no real difference as some reliefs would still have to happen in Stanley regardless.