(29 Aug 2024, 9:57 pm)Storx wrote Guess it depends where you do the driver changes, but I'm sure they can find a way to make it work for the 6/7.The only thing with the X71 is that it's relying on traffic solely in / out of Newcastle although you do mention the Gateshead link. Throw in the MetroCentre and running via Busty Bank as a '47' giving 5x bph alongside your proposed 45 & 46, and that corridor would be strong. Plus an X29 serving Consett would offer an Gateshead link from Consett alongside the X70 plus much more.
I nearly done the X71 by that route, but I think having the service every 30 minute from Consett / Burnopfield to Gateshead is important, not a fan of hourly services. My general thinking was to get a 30 minute service at least between the main places ie.
Consett -> Gateshead (X70/X71)
Stanley -> Gateshead (X30/X31)
Stanley -> Metro Centre (6/7)
Consett -> Metro Centre (45)
Obviously if the demand kept growing you'd probably be better restoring the old 45/46/47 as it was imo.
Don't disagree with the links across to Team Valley but not sure it should be that corridor. Personally I'd look at utilising the 28/29 instead for it. Like could you look at something like:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/54.86835...?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDgyNy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
With a short service running the same route from Newcastle to Team Valley South, then extending to Kibblesworth and terminating and the current 28 running as it is but terminating at Stanley instead. The 28/29 is a dog leg as an understatement South of Ouston, Pelton Fell can be ran by a minibus from Chester Le Street instead.
You'd then get:
Newcastle / Low Fell North to Team Valley, every 30 minutes
Newcastle to Prince Concort Road, every 30 minutes
Stanley / Ouston / Pelton to Birtley, every 30 minutes
Stanley to Team Valley / Low Fell, hourly
Stanley to QE Hospital, hourly
Birtley to Team Valley, hourly
There's quite a few new links being opened up there and places where people actually want to be. The 939 already runs over the bridge with the weight restriction in the centre of Team Valley btw.
When Martijn authorised the large scale cuts back in 2022, the "farmers field" / commuter routes took the biggest hit and rightly so due to changed travel patterns. Sending a new hourly 47 via the MetroCentre (with the current 47 renumbered 46) would give a second major hub. A bit like the Blyth and Ashington 'X' services with Cramlington / Bedlington, Regent Centre and Gosforth as major hubs.
Really, Sunniside > Lobley Hill > Team Valley North > Gateshead > Newcastle using deckers only justfies a 20 minute frequency. If a bus can be half full off peak and fully seated off peak, that's a good sign.....or consistently half full throughout the day like the 6 & 7 would be.