(16 Sep 2024, 12:05 pm)Adrian wrote I'm not being sarcastic, I just think you're making a mountain out of a molehill.

If you'd complained that Jesmond Metro is closed most of the day, then I agree, that does cause disruption for those that need to travel and are not taking part or participating in the event, as it's a 20 minute walk to the nearest station (West Jesmond or Monument), given Haymarket is also exit only. I hate to come across blunt, but the changeover at Heworth is not that; it's barely a 100 yard walk from one bus to another. 

You (and others) have made the point before that all buses should terminate at Gateshead (or another interchange) and that people should transfer onto the Metro into Newcastle. It was pointed out at the time that this never happened as a rule of thumb, and whilst some local buses did terminate at Gateshead, the express services would run into Newcastle. 

I don't think anyone was 'up in arms' about that, it's just not a good suggestion. The central section on the Metro is already at capacity into town in the morning and evening peak, compounded by them not having enough units to run the peak extras anymore.

To put this to rest, lets do a little analysis of buses serving Gateshead and Four Lane Ends Interchanges in 1985. 

Gateshead



Buses Terminating at Interchange

24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 50, 51, 52, 53, 64, 56, 57, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 187, 188, 189, 727, X97, X98 (Total = 25)

Buses Passing Through the Interchange (But not going to/from Newcastle)

58, 59, 648, 649 (Total = 4)

Buses Going to/from Newcastle

231, 301, 605, 612, 700, 704, 705, 707, 721, 722, 723, 724, 725, 726, 728, 729, 730, 735, X1, X4, X5, X11, X20, X23, X30, X40, X41, X94, X95 (Total = 29)

Whilst you could argue the services terminating at Gateshead are of a higher frequency, the amount of routes terminating at Gateshead is around 50/50 taking into account the services passing through the interchange but not terminating and continuing into Newcastle.

I think another point to consider is that Gateshead was more of a shopping destination in 1985, and not just an interchange/somewhere you pass through on the way Newcastle (or Metrocentre - which obviously wasn't around in 1985).  

Four Lane Ends



Buses Terminating at Interchange

346, 347, 357, 913 (Total = 4)

Buses Passing Through the Interchange (But not going to/from Newcastle)

314, 358, 359, (Total = 3)

Buses Going to/from Newcastle

1, 6, 7, 12, 38, 62, 63, 64, 65, 350. 351, 355, 363, 364, 368 (Total = 15)

Given its proximity in comparison to Gateshead and similarities to Heworth in terms of function, you'd expect more services to terminate at Four Lane Ends. Yet, as we can see, most services actually continue to Newcastle, including services one might consider 'local' to the area. For example, Killingworth is nearby, so you'd probably expect most routes serving the area to terminate at Four Lane Ends but, quite simply, they don't. 

So to conclude, to say all services terminated at interchanges so to encourage people to use the Metro to complete their journeys into Newcastle is a myth.