(29 Mar 2023, 1:16 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Interesting idea, how about sending the 27 to felling square.
I Have attached a screenshot showing the potential new route.

Journey takes long enough as it is.

I've got two new ideas.

Route A would be similar to the now withdrawn X22 except it goes via Picktree, Ayton, Lambton & The Galleries instead of Birtley and would extend from The Metrocentre into Newcsastle via the Redheugh Bridge. It would also serve Carr House Drive & Canterbury Road between Framwellgate Moor & Plawsworth.

Route B would start from Low Moorsley operate to Hetton Bus Station, then operate via North Road, Rainton Bridge, Black Boy Road, Woodstone Village & Forge Lane to reach Picktree Roundabout where it would the follow Route A to The Galleries. From there it would serve Washington Village before running non-stop from Horsley Road to Follingsby Roundabout before observing all stops on Lingey Lane, Meresyde, High Lanes, Watermill Lane untill the bus reaches the ASDA at Felling Square. From Felling Square it will run non stop to Newcastle via the Redheugh Bridge.

Pros:
As fast as X1 between Washington & Newcastle.
Would give a lot of areas GNE buses or more direct buses, for better connections and journeys.
Would reinstate direct Durham/CLS or Washington to Metrocentre Routes.
Would give express option from Newcastle to Felling Square, Leam Lane & Wardley.
Would reduce overcrowding on 4, 50, X1 & X21.

Cons:
Slower between Hetton & Washington.
Turnaround times may be too small.
Route B could be considered a gamble.

I think it would be a good idea for to extend the 1 to whitley bay holiday park over the summer as normally alot of people use the 308 & 309 quite alot to get from the band stand to holiday park and with the 1 it gives a link to tynemouth, Cullercoats & North Shields from the holiday park

What was the layover time for the 35 before it last changed, as they seem to always be quite late, I remember someone mentioing it was reduced does anyone know how much. 

Add PVR 1 to 35 to improve reliability, and possibly extend it to High Pittington, it would be about 7 mins each way, leaving enough layover time for 15 at Low Moorsley and 10 at Boldon.

Also a Sunderland to Follingsby link imo is needed the 35 would literally be perfect.

(04 May 2023, 2:09 pm)Unber43 wrote What was the layover time for the 35 before it last changed, as they seem to always be quite late, I remember someone mentioing it was reduced does anyone know how much. 

Add PVR 1 to 35 to improve reliability, and possibly extend it to High Pittington, it would be about 7 mins each way, leaving enough layover time for 15 at Low Moorsley and 10 at Boldon.

Also a Sunderland to Follingsby link imo is needed the 35 would literally be perfect.

I remember years ago, it having 10/15mins (might have been more) at Low Moorsley and using the layover at the top of the village.

(04 May 2023, 2:49 pm)Andreos1 wrote I remember years ago, it having 10/15mins (might have been more) at Low Moorsley and using the layover at the top of the village.

I think it was similar layover until recently - it seemed to be quite a lot of the time I was ever driving that way that there was a 35 waiting at the bus stop on the bend before the bank. However as alluded to above, it seems the layover was reduced I think it was said at the time that this was because the bus couldn’t wait at the terminus due to complaints.

(04 May 2023, 8:02 pm)Drifter60 wrote I think it was similar layover until recently - it seemed to be quite a lot of the time I was ever driving that way that there was a 35 waiting at the bus stop on the bend before the bank. However as alluded to above, it seems the layover was reduced I think it was said at the time that this was because the bus couldn’t wait at the terminus due to complaints. 

That vaguely rings a bell now you mention it.

(04 May 2023, 8:02 pm)Drifter60 wrote I think it was similar layover until recently - it seemed to be quite a lot of the time I was ever driving that way that there was a 35 waiting at the bus stop on the bend before the bank. However as alluded to above, it seems the layover was reduced I think it was said at the time that this was because the bus couldn’t wait at the terminus due to complaints.

Timetable from 2021 indicates that the 35 had 14 mins sit at Low Moorsley during the daytime. One bug bare with the whole terminus matter was as far as I could tell, it wasn't communicated anywhere to passengers and is registered as the terminus, remember getting the 35 once and being left confused as to why the bus was sat at the stop before the terminus for so long, took me a good few minutes to think it was going to stay put at that stop for a while.

(04 May 2023, 9:17 pm)Jimmi wrote Timetable from 2021 indicates that the 35 had 14 mins sit at Low Moorsley during the daytime. One bug bare with the whole terminus matter was as far as I could tell, it wasn't communicated anywhere to passengers and is registered as the terminus, remember getting the 35 once and being left confused as to why the bus was sat at the stop before the terminus for so long, took me a good few minutes to think it was going to stay put at that stop for a while.

Resident complaints at the top of the bank meant we had to wait our time at the stop before the terminus. Even if we had our engines off we weren't allowed to wait up there, had to do it at the stop before, still do, even if it's only 5 minutes now at most.

(04 May 2023, 9:17 pm)Jimmi wrote Timetable from 2021 indicates that the 35 had 14 mins sit at Low Moorsley during the daytime. One bug bare with the whole terminus matter was as far as I could tell, it wasn't communicated anywhere to passengers and is registered as the terminus, remember getting the 35 once and being left confused as to why the bus was sat at the stop before the terminus for so long, took me a good few minutes to think it was going to stay put at that stop for a while.

Hoping that the NSA's were updated to reflect this.
Guessing they weren't.

The layover on the 35 changed when it started serving The Cotswold estate in Boldon. Now you get a little bit of time at Boldon (whereas previously you spun around the roundabout then were away straight away).

However, the running time from Low Moorsley to Hetton Bus Station is quite generous and you get a few minutes sit there which can be an issue depending on stand occupation.

I would extend the 35 from Low Moorsley either to Sherburn, Pittington, Belmont, Durham City Retail Park or Dragonville Tesco and retail park. You could even extend to Bowburn Amazon.

(05 May 2023, 8:16 am)Andreos1 wrote Hoping that the NSA's were updated to reflect this.
Guessing they weren't.

The registered terminus is still at the top of the bank.

(05 May 2023, 10:52 am)deanmachine wrote The registered terminus is still at the top of the bank.

Exactly. 
You know that. What about Jimmi and the other passengers who don't?
Those who we are told rely on the NSA's wouldn't have a clue.

(05 May 2023, 11:27 am)do the 309/310Andreos1 wrote Exactly. 
You know that. What about Jimmi and the other passengers who don't?
Those who we are told rely on the NSA's wouldn't have a clue.

do the 309/310 services still sit for ages at St Marys place?  Dont think NSA refected this, well not when i was last on they didnt

(05 May 2023, 11:32 am)Rob44 wrote do the 309/310 services still sit for ages at St Marys place?  Dont think NSA refected this, well not when i was last on they didnt

You know, I vaguely remember hearing something about that on the 309/310 a few years back, may have just been the driver shouting up the stairs though!

(05 May 2023, 11:27 am)Andreos1 wrote Exactly. 
You know that. What about Jimmi and the other passengers who don't?
Those who we are told rely on the NSA's wouldn't have a clue.

I would have to explain it to the passengers yeah, can't imagine I'd be too happy having to walk up that hill all the time too, or wait 15 minutes to be taken up.

(05 May 2023, 11:32 am)Rob44 wrote do the 309/310 services still sit for ages at St Marys place?  Dont think NSA refected this, well not when i was last on they didnt

No idea, it's a couple of years since I last did anything along the Coast Road.

I'd hope they had been updated.

---

(05 May 2023, 11:43 am)deanmachine wrote I would have to explain it to the passengers yeah, can't imagine I'd be too happy having to walk up that hill all the time too, or wait 15 minutes to be taken up.

Might as well go old school and announce every stop when you are on

In the era of financial austerity, you could win a £25 Amazon voucher for suggesting that money saving idea!

(05 May 2023, 11:35 am)streetdeckfan wrote You know, I vaguely remember hearing something about that on the 309/310 a few years back, may have just been the driver shouting up the stairs though!

LOL. Actually come to think about it when the 44 used to stop at St Marys place I once had the driver shout he'd be there for at least 5 minutes so the bus emptied.

(04 May 2023, 11:40 pm)deanmachine wrote Resident complaints at the top of the bank meant we had to wait our time at the stop before the terminus. Even if we had our engines off we weren't allowed to wait up there, had to do it at the stop before, still do, even if it's only 5 minutes now at most.

I get that, what irked me was the lack of communication and notice to suggest this was the case to passengers, including timetable stating the terminus being the last stop on the journey but no suggestion that you'd be sat like a prat for 14 minutes to get to the last stop which is not reflected in the timetable. Its fine if you are aware of the matter but wasn't so much for those that aren't although saying that, can't imagine there will be many non locals wishing to go to that stop.

(05 May 2023, 8:16 am)Andreos1 wrote Hoping that the NSA's were updated to reflect this.
Guessing they weren't.

I doubt it and at the stage when I did the 35 at least, it was still allocated Solars, so had nothing to go off.

(05 May 2023, 12:15 pm)Rob44 wrote LOL. Actually come to think about it when the 44 used to stop at St Marys place I once had the driver shout he'd be there for at least 5 minutes so the bus emptied.

I used to be a regular on the Coast Road services into Haymarket, and it was quite normal for the driver to shout up the stairs if they were likely to be waiting at St Marys Place for a few minutes.

And yes, the bus used to empty out at that point.  For me, it would depend on whether I had a need to be on my way, or if I was feeling REALLY lazy!

(05 May 2023, 12:15 pm)Rob44 wrote LOL. Actually come to think about it when the 44 used to stop at St Marys place I once had the driver shout he'd be there for at least 5 minutes so the bus emptied.

A route that could actually do with being brought back either as a commuter service or a half hourly spin off to the 308 & 309.

X38 - Whitley Bay Town Centre - same as 308 to Lynn Road - Regent Terrace - Verne Road - Norham Road Retail Park - Willington Square then non-stop to St Mary's Place. 

Would give a faster service than the 308 in parts and also give Verne Road a faster service than the 307 to Newcastle as well as cater for the new builds on Norham Road.

Could even 'dock' services in the according oppostie flow direction to form the X39 runs.

(07 May 2023, 1:49 pm)L469 YVK wrote A route that could actually do with being brought back either as a commuter service or a half hourly spin off to the 308 & 309.

X38 - Whitley Bay Town Centre - same as 308 to Lynn Road - Regent Terrace - Verne Road - Norham Road Retail Park - Willington Square then non-stop to St Mary's Place. 

Would give a faster service than the 308 in parts and also give Verne Road a faster service than the 307 to Newcastle as well as cater for the new builds on Norham Road.

Could even 'dock' services in the according oppostie flow direction to form the X39 runs.

Send it via Marden Estate as per old 44 then withdraw the useless extention of the 306 between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay.

(08 May 2023, 10:13 am)ian foster wrote Send it via Marden Estate as per old 44 then withdraw the useless extention of the 306 between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay.

Something like the following......

https://goo.gl/maps/FWGZ7kMJQf2qnVYp9

Service X38 - Marden Estate Loop - Hillheads - North Tyneside Hospital - Billy Mill Lane - Lynn Road - Regent Terrace - The Quadrant - Verne Road - Norham Road then non-stop to St Mary's Place and Newcastle Haymarket.

Should be do-able with a PVR of 3x

* Covers Marden Estate and still offers links to shops and restores the link to North Tyneside Hospital from Marden.
* Covers the 308 between Hillheads and Billy Mill
* Covers the 307 through the Quadrant, Verne Road and Norham Road

(08 May 2023, 11:33 am)L469 YVK wrote Something like the following......

https://goo.gl/maps/FWGZ7kMJQf2qnVYp9

Service X38 - Marden Estate Loop - Hillheads - North Tyneside Hospital - Billy Mill Lane - Lynn Road - Regent Terrace - The Quadrant - Verne Road - Norham Road then non-stop to St Mary's Place and Newcastle Haymarket.

Should be do-able with a PVR of 3x

* Covers Marden Estate and still offers links to shops and restores the link to North Tyneside Hospital from Marden.
* Covers the 308 between Hillheads and Billy Mill
* Covers the 307 through the Quadrant, Verne Road and Norham Road

See personally I'd do something like:
X50 (Every 30 Minutes) - https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.04518...95!1m0!3e0
59 (Every 30 Minutes) - Tynemouth to Murton - https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.01771...95!1m0!3e0

51 - Terminate at Holystone
306 - Terminate at Tynemouth
W2 - Withdrawn
317 - Wallsend to North Shields only
335 - Withdrawn on Eastern Side

Other than the Preston Village to Whitley Bay there's no major links lost.

Cleans up a lot of marginal services and creates 2 routes, one linking the routes away from the Metro / 308 / 309 to Newcastle and the other linking up the main corridors to North Shields with connections to most the main links and also a link for ferry go'ers from North Shields Ferry to Tynemouth for day trippers (could be popular imo).

I've noticed over the past few weeks Go North East having been doing driver training through Gosforth to Regent Centre before heading up Regent Farm Road onto Wansbeck Road which got me wondering if they could have a variation of the Q3 on the cards.

(11 May 2023, 11:04 pm)Malarkey wrote I've noticed over the past few weeks Go North East having been doing driver training through Gosforth to Regent Centre before heading up Regent Farm Road onto Wansbeck Road which got me wondering if they could have a variation of the Q3 on the cards.

could just be a new route for delegated examinations or a preference for driver trainers

(08 May 2023, 11:33 am)L469 YVK wrote Something like the following......

https://goo.gl/maps/FWGZ7kMJQf2qnVYp9

Service X38 - Marden Estate Loop - Hillheads - North Tyneside Hospital - Billy Mill Lane - Lynn Road - Regent Terrace - The Quadrant - Verne Road - Norham Road then non-stop to St Mary's Place and Newcastle Haymarket.

Should be do-able with a PVR of 3x

* Covers Marden Estate and still offers links to shops and restores the link to North Tyneside Hospital from Marden.
* Covers the 308 between Hillheads and Billy Mill
* Covers the 307 through the Quadrant, Verne Road and Norham Road

no send X38 to Whitley Bay via the old 44 route non stop between St. Mary's Place and Norham Rd. to replace the useless extension of 306 between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay

Should bring back the X9 was so much quicker to get to newcastle

Hopefully if passenger numbers continue to improve, which I assume the £2 max single fare is massively helping with, there is potential for it to return.

Service 57 currently has over 20 minutes sitting at Market Street, which is clearly inefficient.

Either operate it to a similar route as the Coaster 1 from Gateshead to Newcastle. This would provide a direct link to Central Station from Old Durham Road and East Gateshead.

Or on arrival in Newcastle, operate up John Dobson Street, St Mary's Place, Percy Street and Newgate Street, in a similar fashion to the old 'City Loop' that Go Ahead Gateshead used to have, offering alternative stop locations in the city for customers travelling to/from East Gateshead, while opening up easier connections to/from the north of the city.

Anything has to be better than having a driver earning zero money for that long!