RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
(29 Aug 2024, 9:14 pm)L469 YVK wrote To be honest, your 6 & 7 would be tricky standalone with a PVR of 10 as there'd be no efficient driving hours (2hr 30m round trip) if ran standalone. But......they could be interworked with the X97 & 12 to bump the driving hours to 3hr30m and 4hrs.
Like the idea of the 10A extension too instead of the 47 and would give some new links too.
Only things I would say.....
- X71 doesn't serve Gateshead now, maybe use that opportunity to create an hourly 47 (current X71 to Burnopfield, Busty Bank then as per 45 & 46). Would then give a 12-13 minute service combined with the 45 & 46 which would be a welcome capacity increase where needed and scrap the need for an extra 46 at peak times. Could even extend to Bridgehill giving a quicker option to accompany the 10A. And would also give 3bph from Consett to the MetroCentre at somewhat (although not exact) even intervals.
- Does Sunniside to Newcastle need to be a 15 minute frequency in the current climate? Especially if the X97 did Broadway > Burnthouse Ln > Kingsway Old Sunniside Rd and Whaggs Lane as part of the loop? The X30, X31 and X70 would be sufficient enough with one of them also serving the Lobley Hill Estate.
I'd also strongly advocate setting up a more direct and to the heart link to Team Valley such as the suggested X29 (Consett - Leadgate - Greencroft - Catchgate - Annfield Plain - Stanley then same as old peak time X32) in my earlier post, a route which would suit the profile of using BSIP funding effectively, offering travel opportunities to key places for various reasons.
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.
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.