...but as with most of these suggestions: why?
What would be your business case for it, given that this is the world we presently live in.

If you were merging everything together you'd be better merging the cross Newcastle services for example merging stuff like the 46 (Arriva) and 57 (GNE) to give cross city routes. 

Similar to most of Stagecoach's routes but they're East / West. 

Theres loads of routes you could merge potentially, 

44, 45, 46, 55, X47, X87, X88, X63, 10, 11, 30, 31 North of the water. The last 4 to remove the rather weird U shaped routes.

12, 57, 58, 100, Q1/2, 53, 54 South of the water.

I've just checked my Spreadsheet:

• ANE 44 & 45 merged with SNE 36.
  
• ANE 55 merged with SNE X87/X88,
  
• Earlier Post regarding 25/29/53/54.
  
• South Shields 50 (Now 550), 5 (Now 551) & 17  (Which will extend to Boldon Cineworld as 552 via Stanhope Road or 553 via Hospital). 550-553 combine for Total frequency of 7/8 Mins.
  
• Return of old Stanley 714 & 715 as 614 & 615.
  
• GNE 8 Extended to Lanchester (Renumbered 675, 78 Renumbered 678).
  
• ANE Durham 43 (Now 743, Joined by 744 (DCC 52) & 745 which extends from Esh Winning to Tow Law.
  
• GNE 1A & 1B still as Now.
  
• Nexus TB29 replaced by New 95 to Team Valley.
  
• SNE 35 merged with Nexus 6.
  
• SNE X78 to operate a circular route via Kirkley Hall, Ponteland, Darras Hall & Medburn before returning to Ponteland. (Will be X77 & X78) New Service X76 will Extend Hourly from Darras Hall to Belsay via Matfen, Ingoe & Wallridge. 
  
• Nexus W1 & W2 replaced by Extended GNE X39. 
  
• Nexus 333 replaced by New Service X40 (Express route similar to 310). 
  

---

...but as with most of these suggestions: why?
What would be your business case for it, given that this is the world we presently live in.

In a lot of cases merging service may reduce overall PVR compared with the 2 services seperately. If you took the 53/53A/54/54A ideas, you are potenally saving the 1 bus allocated to the 29 and you could avoid the need to reinstate the X21 Shorts. Whilst giving alternative solutions to ease issues on the X1 & 21.

I've just checked my Spreadsheet:

• ANE 44 & 45 merged with SNE 36.
  
• ANE 55 merged with SNE X87/X88,
  
• Earlier Post regarding 25/29/53/54.
  
• South Shields 50 (Now 550), 5 (Now 551) & 17  (Which will extend to Boldon Cineworld as 552 via Stanhope Road or 553 via Hospital). 550-553 combine for Total frequency of 7/8 Mins.
  
• Return of old Stanley 714 & 715 as 614 & 615.
  
• GNE 8 Extended to Lanchester (Renumbered 675, 78 Renumbered 678).
  
• ANE Durham 43 (Now 743, Joined by 744 (DCC 52) & 745 which extends from Esh Winning to Tow Law.
  
• GNE 1A & 1B still as Now.
  
• Nexus TB29 replaced by New 95 to Team Valley.
  
• SNE 35 merged with Nexus 6.
  
• SNE X78 to operate a circular route via Kirkley Hall, Ponteland, Darras Hall & Medburn before returning to Ponteland. (Will be X77 & X78) New Service X76 will Extend Hourly from Darras Hall to Belsay via Matfen, Ingoe & Wallridge. 
  
• Nexus W1 & W2 replaced by Extended GNE X39. 
  
• Nexus 333 replaced by New Service X40 (Express route similar to 310). 
  

---

In a lot of cases merging service may reduce overall PVR compared with the 2 services seperately. If you took the 53/53A/54/54A ideas, you are potenally saving the 1 bus allocated to the 29 and you could avoid the need to reinstate the X21 Shorts. Whilst giving alternative solutions to ease issues on the X1 & 21.

See personally I don't really see the point in any of the North of Tyne merges there as they're not offering any new links to anywhere which are useful to anyone. This is to answer Adrian's question aswell.

At least if you merged let's say the 57 and 44/45 together your creating new links such as the South of the Tyne to Gosforth Park for the races with an easy change at Gateshead, depending on what route you use it's not too easy to change at Newcastle as your bus might terminate at Market Street and it's a fair trek across to Haymarket and / or people might not want to Bus / Metro / Bus. You've also sorted the issue with driver changeovers at Riverside as you could move it to Jesmond.

Most of the routes North of Tyne offer something which can be quite difficult for those coming from the South:
52* - Freeman
55 - DWP
X63 - Quorum / Killingworth
30/31/44/45/46 - Gosforth
44/45 - Gosforth Park (Racing)
X47 - Kingston Park (Rugby)

It's similar heading South
57/58/Q1/Q2/53 - Gateshead (Change for everywhere without walking for potentially 10/15 minutes)
12 - Newcastle Business Park
53/54 - Saltwell Park
57 - QE
91* - Team Valley
100 - Metro Centre

*Didn't mention them but they could potentially work aswell.

In a lot of cases merging service may reduce overall PVR compared with the 2 services seperately. If you took the 53/53A/54/54A ideas, you are potenally saving the 1 bus allocated to the 29 and you could avoid the need to reinstate the X21 Shorts. Whilst giving alternative solutions to ease issues on the X1 & 21.

But look at the length of your route suggestions. You're taking a huge gamble on reliability, just to save one bus?
Would it even take a bus out of the PVR, like have you taken into account driving hours and breaks?

But look at the length of your route suggestions. You're taking a huge gamble on reliability, just to save one bus?
Would it even take a bus out of the PVR, like have you taken into account driving hours and breaks?

And we haven't even begun to consider the amount of investment needed to make these services viable due to the CAZ/ULEZ coming into effect in Newcastle soon.

Here is my idea for a new airlink brand

Washington Airlink
WA1:
Washington
Oxclose
Blackfell
Concord
Usworth
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport

Every hour


WA2
Washington
Biddick
Barmston
Concord
Springwell
Wreckenton
Gateshead
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport
Every hour

WA3
Houghton-le-Spring
Newbottle
Philidelphia
Shiney row
Harrison
Rickleton
Washington
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport

Every hour

Sunderland airlink

SA1
Seaham
Ryhope
Tunstall
Thornhill
Sunderland City Centre
Chester Road
Pennywell
Grindon
Hastings Hill
Non-Stop
Newcastle airport

Every hour

SA2

Seaburn
Fulwell
High Southwick
Marley potts
Hylton Red house
Town End Farm
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport
Downhill

Every hour

Air bus (a bit of a play on the brand name) (all airlink services not in Sunderland or Washington, all run hourly)

A1

Durham
Framwellgate Moor
Pity Me
Chester-Le-Street
Birtley
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport

A2
Wreckenton
Allerdene
Low Fell
Gateshead
Newcastle
Non-stop
Newcastle Airport

A3
Consett
Shotley Bridge
Ebchester
Swalwell
Metrocentre
Dunston
Newcastle
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport

Here is my idea for a new airlink brand

Washington Airlink
WA1:
Washington
Oxclose
Blackfell
Concord
Usworth
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport

Every hour


WA2
Washington
Biddick
Barmston
Concord
Springwell
Wreckenton
Gateshead
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport
Every hour

WA3
Houghton-le-Spring
Newbottle
Philidelphia
Shiney row
Harrison
Rickleton
Washington
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport

Every hour

Sunderland airlink

SA1
Seaham
Ryhope
Tunstall
Thornhill
Sunderland City Centre
Chester Road
Pennywell
Grindon
Hastings Hill
Non-Stop
Newcastle airport

Every hour

SA2

Seaburn
Fulwell
High Southwick
Marley potts
Hylton Red house
Town End Farm
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport
Downhill

Every hour

Air bus (a bit of a play on the brand name) (all airlink services not in Sunderland or Washington, all run hourly)

A1

Durham
Framwellgate Moor
Pity Me
Chester-Le-Street
Birtley
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport

A2
Wreckenton
Allerdene
Low Fell
Gateshead
Newcastle
Non-stop
Newcastle Airport

A3
Consett
Shotley Bridge
Ebchester
Swalwell
Metrocentre
Dunston
Newcastle
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport

Does there really need to be that many services to Newcastle Airport?

Does there really need to be that many services to Newcastle Airport?

No, but I think we've discovered a decent use for the A19/A1(M) Service Station Bus Hubs.

No, but I think we've discovered a decent use for the A19/A1(M) Service Station Bus Hubs.

Non-existent services for non-existent hubs.

Smashing.

Here is my idea for a new airlink brand

Washington Airlink
WA1:
Washington
Oxclose
Blackfell
Concord
Usworth
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport

Every hour


WA2
Washington
Biddick
Barmston
Concord
Springwell
Wreckenton
Gateshead
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport
Every hour

WA3
Houghton-le-Spring
Newbottle
Philidelphia
Shiney row
Harrison
Rickleton
Washington
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport

Every hour

Sunderland airlink

SA1
Seaham
Ryhope
Tunstall
Thornhill
Sunderland City Centre
Chester Road
Pennywell
Grindon
Hastings Hill
Non-Stop
Newcastle airport

Every hour

SA2

Seaburn
Fulwell
High Southwick
Marley potts
Hylton Red house
Town End Farm
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport
Downhill

Every hour

Air bus (a bit of a play on the brand name) (all airlink services not in Sunderland or Washington, all run hourly)

A1

Durham
Framwellgate Moor
Pity Me
Chester-Le-Street
Birtley
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport

A2
Wreckenton
Allerdene
Low Fell
Gateshead
Newcastle
Non-stop
Newcastle Airport

A3
Consett
Shotley Bridge
Ebchester
Swalwell
Metrocentre
Dunston
Newcastle
Non-Stop
Newcastle Airport

There's a Metro service to the airport every 12 minutes and for each of those services it would be quicker to change at Newcastle or Gateshead anyway or Sunderland for the two SA services. There's no demand for any buses to the airport from anywhere from the South - you'd be lucky if there is 10 potential customers for each of those services a day if every single person from each of the areas your serving used the bus. You might be able to push one from the North somewhere but even then the old service which used to do that failed (101).

Here is my idea for a new airlink brand

The only problem is that Newcastle is not Heathrow...

The only problem is that Newcastle is not Heathrow...

A rare post of the year contender right there.

This is an idea based around GNE's Little Pinks (81 - 84) September Changes. 
https://asxterranova.home.blog/2021/08/0...timetable/

I did also ponder extending the 85 to Coach Road Estate and also making that cover Brady & Square and Barmston Court running every 20 Mins, but that gives Biddick 13bph including the 2A & a revised Nexus 23 which is a bit overkill.

This is an idea based around GNE's Little Pinks (81 - 84) September Changes. 
https://asxterranova.home.blog/2021/08/0...timetable/

I did also ponder extending the 85 to Coach Road Estate and also making that cover Brady & Square and Barmston Court running every 20 Mins, but that gives Biddick 13bph including the 2A & a revised Nexus 23 which is a bit overkill.

How do you propose serving Coniston on the way back from Washington?
Why does a Washington service need to serve both Heworth and Pelaw Metro stations?
Why would someone living in Birtley want to spend 44 minutes on a bus travelling to Nissan when it would only take about 10 minutes in the car (disregarding the fact that Nissan employees get excellent deals on vehicles through the benefits scheme)?

How do you propose serving Coniston on the way back from Washington?
Why does a Washington service need to serve both Heworth and Pelaw Metro stations?
Why would someone living in Birtley want to spend 44 minutes on a bus travelling to Nissan when it would only take about 10 minutes in the car (disregarding the fact that Nissan employees get excellent deals on vehicles through the benefits scheme)?

Firstly, In regards to the Pelaw section, I wanted the Ellen Wilkinson Estate and kirkwood gardens areas to have a direct Washington service. Secondly, can you cross the felling bypass to reach Lakes Estate? 

I'm still unsure whether to have the M4 at all or whether to have the M3 serve Birtley and just use my Circular idea, which would cover Nissan, Cherry Blossom Way, Waterview Park & Teal Farm as well as Washington Village (Richmond Avenue), Pattinson North & South, Concord, Donwell (London Avenue) & The Back of Albany (Moorway) to The Galleries.

Firstly, In regards to the Pelaw section, I wanted the Ellen Wilkinson Estate and kirkwood gardens areas to have a direct Washington service. Secondly, can you cross the felling bypass to reach Lakes Estate? 

I'm still unsure whether to have the M4 at all or whether to have the M3 serve Birtley and just use my Circular idea, which would cover Nissan, Cherry Blossom Way, Waterview Park & Teal Farm as well as Washington Village (Richmond Avenue), Pattinson North & South, Concord, Donwell (London Avenue) & The Back of Albany (Moorway) to The Galleries.

Do the residents of Ellen Wilkinson Estate need or even want a direct link to Washington? There might be some demand for it - I don't know - however much of Ellen Wilkinson Estate is relatively close to the Felling By Pass and the bus stop located there is within a reasonable walking distance for most. 

If you're offering this link to Ellen Wilkinson Estate then why not the rest of Wardley? I'm sure residents nrar Manor Gardens, White Mere Gardens or Wardley Lane would appreciate a link to Washington as much as people living on Keir Hardie Avenue or Kirkwood Avenue (or then again, perhaps not)?

As for the Lakes Estate, is it really best practise to navigate a bus across a busy dual carriageway unless it is absolutely necessary? The 68 uses the Shields Road thoroughfare to get in and out of the estate for good reason, and, once again, the estate is located relative close to bus stops on the Felling By Pass and is only about a 10 minute walk from Heworth Interchange.

To attract punters onto the bus, I'd argue the journey must as quick and direct as possible. What you often suggest is lengthy and circuitous which, personally, would make me grab my keys and take the car or ride my bike.

As for the Lakes Estate, is it really practise to navigate a bus across a busy dual carriageway unless it is absolutely necessary? The 68 uses the Shields Road thoroughfare to get in and out of the estate for good reason, and, once again, the estate is located relative close to bus stops on the Felling By Pass and is only about a 10 minute walk from Heworth Interchange.

I'm of the opinion that the bus stops on the bypass are frankly bloody dangerous. Especially that one before the footbridge heading towards Wardley. Not sure if it's possible, but the bus lane heading towards Heworth should be replicated on the other side to reduce the risk.

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I've just been looking at my old blog posts and came across these ideas from 2019 & 2020 (Some of them overlap as well). 
I may have also been a bit optimistic on the timings for some of these. 

https://asxterranova.home.blog/2020/01/1...bus-ideas/
https://asxterranova.home.blog/2020/07/1...ork-ideas/
https://asxterranova.home.blog/2020/09/1...xpress-x7/
https://asxterranova.home.blog/2020/10/1...timetable/
https://asxterranova.home.blog/2020/11/0...galleries/
https://asxterranova.home.blog/2019/11/1...-2-24-24a/
https://asxterranova.home.blog/2019/11/1...dea-79-80/

I haven’t done a suggestion in a while, but it seems strange that the new X6 timetable has loads of layover and no obvious interworking yet and GNE are handing customers straight to Arriva in Wingate and Station Town.

Suggestion being >> X6 Sunderland-Seaham-Peterlee-Wingate-Station Town

It would replace the 202 on the same route between Peterlee via Moorcock and A19 to Wingate, giving a much faster bus to and from Peterlee and also providing quicker links further afield to Dalton Park, Seaham or Sunderland than what the 202 does currently.

Departs Sunderland at xx:07, in xx:41 in Peterlee - arriving Station Town xx:02
Leaving Station Town at xx:03, in Peterlee at xx:23, arriving Sunderland at xx:58

So it still only requires two buses.

Service Suggestions for Peterlee:

This is based upon the assumption that the X7 will not be returning:

Service 202:
Section between Peterlee and Station Town withdrawn and replaced by service X6. Section between Easington Village and Peterlee revised, now operating via Holme Hill replacing the short journeys between Peterlee and Easington on service 208. Although this extends journey times, passengers from Easington Lane-Easington still have quicker journeys to Peterlee on service 55, while Seaham and Dalton Park have the X6. Would have around 7 minutes layover at Peterlee so no issues there.

Service 208:
Short journeys from Peterlee to Easington withdrawn and replaced by a re-routed 202.

Service X6:
Extended beyond Peterlee to Station Town in place of service 202.

These changes would free up a solo used on the short 208 journeys while also making better use of the X6 timetable which currently has long layover times due to former interworking with service X7.

Associated Fleet Changes:
673/74 remain at Deptford branded X-Lines for service X6
675-78 remain at Deptford repainted and rebranded Black Cats for the 33/38/38A
647-50 transfer to Percy Main repainted and rebranded Little Coasters
698-701 withdrawn from Percy Main
666 transfers to Deptford repainted into fleet livery for the 938
651 transfers to Chester-le-Street
722 withdrawn due to low specification interior

I haven’t done a suggestion in a while, but it seems strange that the new X6 timetable has loads of layover and no obvious interworking yet and GNE are handing customers straight to Arriva in Wingate and Station Town.

Suggestion being >> X6 Sunderland-Seaham-Peterlee-Wingate-Station Town

It would replace the 202 on the same route between Peterlee via Moorcock and A19 to Wingate, giving a much faster bus to and from Peterlee and also providing quicker links further afield to Dalton Park, Seaham or Sunderland than what the 202 does currently.

Departs Sunderland at xx:07, in xx:41 in Peterlee - arriving Station Town xx:02
Leaving Station Town at xx:03, in Peterlee at xx:23, arriving Sunderland at xx:58

So it still only requires two buses.

Came up with a similar suggestion a couple months ago with regards to extending the X6 to Station Town in place of the 202 - definitely think it's an opportunity missed!

Sorry bit off topic, but just wonder how the high profile laser branded 35 declined from 6 bus per hour to 2 bph currently....any thing to do with the demographic, or just because the south shield section taken over by the 20?

Sorry bit off topic, but just wonder how the high profile laser branded 35 declined from 6 bus per hour to 2 bph currently....any thing to do with the demographic, or just because the south shield section taken over by the 20?

I remember when we were told in no uncertain terms, that it was way more profitable than the 20.
Then, suddenly, without warning, GNE proposed to somehow change the fortunes of it and extend the 20 to Shields. The passengers who responded to the consultation rejected those proposals, but it was forced through a year later and not too long afterwards, the 20 ended up with new vehicles. 

Since then, the allocation of the 35 has gone from brand new Mercs, to Solars then a mixed fleet and now a reduced frequency.

I'd be quite concerned if I was looking at what the 35 apparently was to what it is now and the what's seems like a continued retraction in frequency, status and quality.

I remember when we were told in no uncertain terms, that it was way more profitable than the 20.
Then, suddenly, without warning, GNE proposed to somehow change the fortunes of it and extend the 20 to Shields. The passengers who responded to the consultation rejected those proposals, but it was forced through a year later and not too long afterwards, the 20 ended up with new vehicles. 

Since then, the allocation of the 35 has gone from brand new Mercs, to Solars then a mixed fleet and now a reduced frequency.

I'd be quite concerned if I was looking at what the 35 apparently was to what it is now and the what's seems like a continued retraction in frequency, status and quality.

Wouldnt be suprised if it ends up in the axed pile

Wouldnt be suprised if it ends up in the axed pile

That would be the easy option I'm sure.

Wouldnt be suprised if it ends up in the axed pile

There killed off the 535/536 when there purchased Ok Travel and decided to run the service via the OK 161 route, and killed it even more by renumbering them to 35/35a/36 going via different areas to the destinations


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I remember when we were told in no uncertain terms, that it was way more profitable than the 20.
Then, suddenly, without warning, GNE proposed to somehow change the fortunes of it and extend the 20 to Shields. The passengers who responded to the consultation rejected those proposals, but it was forced through a year later and not too long afterwards, the 20 ended up with new vehicles. 

Since then, the allocation of the 35 has gone from brand new Mercs, to Solars then a mixed fleet and now a reduced frequency.

I'd be quite concerned if I was looking at what the 35 apparently was to what it is now and the what's seems like a continued retraction in frequency, status and quality.

Just being too weird it was

Service 7 (To replace Service 73)



Chester le Street
Barley Mow - Dorset Avenue

Birtley

Northside Estate

Blackfell Knoulberry

Armstrong Industrial Estate

Parsons Industrial Estate

Concord Bus Station

Coach Road Estate

Sulgrave

Peel Retail Park

Waterview Park

Teal Farm

Castletown

Hylton Enterprise Park

Queen Alexandra Bridge

Sunderland Interchange



This service would operate hourly Monday to Saturday and provide those living in Birtley Northside Estate with a bus service. As far as I'm are Northside Estate no longer has a bus service from September. This would also give those living in Birtley a direct bus service to Sunderland and give those living in Blackfell Knoulberry a bus to Concord.

291/2 (circular 291 anti clockwise, 292 clockwise)

Heworth Metro
Leam Lane
Follingsby Park
Sulgrave Waterloo Road
Concord
Wear Industrial Estate
Barmston Waskerley Road
Biddick
Washington Galleries
Blackfell Knoulberry
Parsons
Concord
Coach Road Estate
Heworth Metro

This service would operate hourly Monday to Saturday, replacing links lost by revised service 84. This would reintroduce a link to Heworth from Sulgrave, Barmston and Blackfell and provide an extra bus to the Galleries and Concord from Coach Road Estate.

Service 7 (To replace Service 73)



Chester le Street
Barley Mow - Dorset Avenue

Birtley

Northside Estate

Blackfell Knoulberry

Armstrong Industrial Estate

Parsons Industrial Estate

Concord Bus Station

Coach Road Estate

Sulgrave

Peel Retail Park

Waterview Park

Teal Farm

Castletown

Hylton Enterprise Park

Queen Alexandra Bridge

Sunderland Interchange



This service would operate hourly Monday to Saturday and provide those living in Birtley Northside Estate with a bus service. As far as I'm are Northside Estate no longer has a bus service from September. This would also give those living in Birtley a direct bus service to Sunderland and give those living in Blackfell Knoulberry a bus to Concord.

291/2 (circular 291 anti clockwise, 292 clockwise)

Heworth Metro
Leam Lane
Follingsby Park
Sulgrave Waterloo Road
Concord
Wear Industrial Estate
Barmston Waskerley Road
Biddick
Washington Galleries
Blackfell Knoulberry
Parsons
Concord
Coach Road Estate
Heworth Metro

This service would operate hourly Monday to Saturday, replacing links lost by revised service 84. This would reintroduce a link to Heworth from Sulgrave, Barmston and Blackfell and provide an extra bus to the Galleries and Concord from Coach Road Estate.

Send your 73 suggestion to nexus as it’s a secured service, go north east won’t do it as it’s not profitable for them.

I would of expected gne renumber the 78 to 7 by now, so the 7 and 8 will be under the new brand


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Bit of a pie in the sky idea if 6338-40 were available. Give Arriva and the ABTRL a run for their money.............

X89 ** Blyth - Plessey Road - Newsham - Portland Wynd - A192 - B1326 then non stop via A189 to Newcastle.

PVR 3x with drivers able to do a maximum of 2x round trips (3 hours). Journey time off peak roughly 38-40 mins. Operated by Riverside.

Half hourly Mon-Sat with some late evening journeys and hourly Sundays.

X23

Darlington
Aycliffe Village
Newton Aycliffe
Ferryhill
Croxdale
Durham
Framwellgate Moor
Chester-Le-Street
Non-Stop
Metrocentre
Newcastle

Every hour

Allocation: either 2nd hand Wright eclipses, E400s or B9TLs