(09 Jul 2024, 1:16 pm)logidoodah wrote Here's how I would change GNE's North Tyneside network:.
(Blue) 1 : Metrocentre - Whitley Bay [Every 20 minutes, Coaster, PVR = 11]
(Orange) 9 : North Shields, Sunderland [Every 30 minutes, PVR = 4]
(Brown) 41 : Wallsend - North Shields Ferry & Fish Quay [Every 30 minutes, PVR = 3]
(Red) 42/42A : Wallsend - Cramlington/Whitley Bay [Comb. Every 30 minutes, Comb. PVR = 5]
(D Grey) 307 : Newcastle - North Shields [Every 20 minutes, Cobalt & Coast, PVR = 6].
(L Grey) 309 : Newcastle - Whitley Bay [Every 20 minutes, Cobalt & Coast, PVR = 8]
(D Red) 353 : Cramlington - North Shields [Every 30 minutes, PVR = 5].
(Purple) 354 : Newcastle - North Shields [Every 30 minutes, North Tyne Rockets, Comb. PVR = 9
(Pink) 355 : Newcastle - Northumberland Park/Whitley Bay [Every 30 minutes, North Tyne Rockets, Comb. PVR = 9]
42/42A interwork; 354/355 interwork; everything else standalone; 9 operated by Deptford if necessary
- 1 has a faster journey to Metrocentre from East Newcastle & the coast (via the 49 route in Dunston); the 49/49A could operate the 96 and old 95 routes in Lobley Hill instead, improving links here too.
- 41/42/42A each create new links and cover the 19 & W1 so they can be withdrawn. There are no lost links to cobalt, and it is only a short walk from Silverlink into Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate. This incorporates the 41/41A current frequency to Hadrian Pk (but as 41/42/42A)
- 352 is withdrawn to improve services that aren't duplicated for 95% of the route and provide worse connections than the competitor (in this case the 37)
- 353 standalone and freq increase. Slight route change in Forest Hall now covered by the 354.
- 354 route change to be original route through Gosforth-Longbenton and then new route through Forest Hall, then via Briardene Way instead of Backworth Lane (now covered by 355), route then splits from the 353 and operates via Preston Grange, opening new links. Frequency now upped to every 30 mins.
- 355 route change, so it operates via Forest Hall-Quorum-Killingworth, then via Backworth Lane to Northumberland Park. The route will then go via the 351 route to Whitley Bay, opening new links. Alternative jopurneys will terminate short at Northumberland Park. Frequency: every 30 minutes to Northumberland Park Interchange.
- Northumberland Park is now treated as an interchange, with the 354/355/42/42A serving it with 11 buses per hour between the services.
Not sure I agree with them from the Northern area, it's all much of the same (also unless you're putting breadvans on then the 19/W1 merger is a no go.
Assuming franchising now I'd look at something like instead personally for the non Newcastle routes:
With the following services all running every 30 minutes:
53 (Purple): Newbiggin Hall to North Shields via Kingston Park, Dudley, Killingworth, Forest Hall, Shiremoor, Cobalt
57 (Blue): Morpeth to North Shields via Bedlington, Cramlington, Seaton Delaval, Monkseaton, Whitley Bay, NT Hospital
58 (Red): Ashington to North Shields via Bedlington Station, Bedlington, Cramlington Ind. Estates, Cramlington, East Cramlington, Seaton Delaval, Backworth, Cobalt, Silverlink
59 (Orange): East Hartford to Wallsend via Cramlington, Killingworth, Forest Hall
With these current routes scrapped:
19
43 (Cramlington to Morpeth)
57/57A
58
317 (North Shields to Whitley Bay)
342
353
It would open lots of new links between the main towns without any real dog legs and remove the Deckers from the 43 between Morpeth and Cramlington which are over kill.