Am just wondering what some of the shortest routes in the North East area must be to have existed.  The two I can think of are. 

Service 5  Headland - Hart Station which took less than 10 minutes and could easily do a round trip within 20 minutes.  

The TR1  Middlesbrough Bus Station - Middleheaven ( Middlesbrough College ). 
A journey time of around 5 minutes end to end.  

However both can easily by the former Hartlepool shopping shuttle 25 service which was simply Victoria road to to the Marina.  


I can’t think of any other registered services that have been shorter than these unless anyone else can.

The current 416 between Morpeth Bus Station and St. George's Hospital is probably up there. Comes in at a 4 minute drive on Google Maps, at a distance of 1 mile, it's timetabled for 6 minutes.

https://bustimes.org/services/416-morpeth-morpeth.

(14 Oct 2023, 10:35 pm)col87 wrote Am just wondering what some of the shortest routes in the North East area must be to have existed.  The two I can think of are. 

Service 5  Headland - Hart Station which took less than 10 minutes and could easily do a round trip within 20 minutes.  

The TR1  Middlesbrough Bus Station - Middleheaven ( Middlesbrough College ). 
A journey time of around 5 minutes end to end.  

However both can easily by the former Hartlepool shopping shuttle 25 service which was simply Victoria road to to the Marina.  


I can’t think of any other registered services that have been shorter than these unless anyone else can.

The Metrocentre services must've been up there

https://www.northeastbuses.co.uk/bygone/...t_2007.pdf

The W2 takes 11 minutes from Whitley Bay Metro to Brierdene.

41-GNE
68- Stagecoach
355-GNE
Previous Routes
40-GNE
M55/55- Arriva
333-GCT/Arriva/GNE
335-Arriva/Phoenix (Hadrian Park- Four Lane Ends)
555-Arriva

702 from Chester up to north lodge is timetabled as 7 minutes but I doubt it takes that long.

641 - Blaydon - Winlaton.

Approx 10 minutes but usually less.

The late 80s there was Go ahead Northern service 546 Jarrow to Hill Park Estate. Approx 14 minutes round trip

The currency operated by GCT 61 is north road to whitesmocks and back in all of 16 minutes.

763 Consett Bus Station - St James Court (4 minutes)

30 Stanley to Quaking Houses (8 mins)

40 - Durham Cathedral to Rail Station (9 mins)

40A Durham Cathedral to Coach Park (6 mins)

PR2 Howlands to Durham City Centre (7 mins)

The following could also fit in but it's an argument how they are registered and your interpretation as it's mostly of a circular nature and/or takes longer in one direction than the other:

9 Bishop Auckland - Woodhouse Close
17 Newton Aycliffe Town Service
115 Spennymoor - Greenways

That 7 minutes for the PR2 seems quite ambitious

Washington: when the 83 was renumbered to the 82A in (I think) February 2015, the part of the route that ran from Concord to Heworth was axed. For a while GNE ran a service from Concord to Stephenson Industrial Estate and back to Concord as service number 982 on early mornings and late afternoons to compensate for the loss of that part of the route. The journey was 5 minutes from Concord to Stephenson. I'm not sure if this would count as it only ran Monday to Friday, it consisted of only 7 runs and was effectively a workers special. The service was scrapped after about a year as it was little used.

(16 Oct 2023, 7:22 am)Robbie64 wrote Washington: when the 83 was renumbered to the 82A in (I think) February 2015, the part of the route that ran from Concord to Heworth was axed. For a while GNE ran a service from Concord to Stephenson Industrial Estate and back to Concord as service number 982 on early mornings and late afternoons to compensate for the loss of that part of the route. The journey was 5 minutes from Concord to Stephenson. I'm not sure if this would count as it only ran Monday to Friday, it consisted of only 7 runs and was effectively a workers special. The service was scrapped after about a year as it was little used.

The dreaded 9 prefix. 

You just know when that's used by GNE, it's barely going to last 5mins.

How about Sunderland City Centre - Docks (and return) on the 38?

The 61 in Durham was a short one too (previously mentioned) but unsure if the route has changed.

Do you think short quick circular routes 15 or 30 min round trips are more beneficial and reliable than cross city services?

Just remembered the 300 that used to do North Shields- Howdon Road, im sure that was then replaced with an extention of the 333 would of been around 2011/2012ish

(16 Oct 2023, 2:11 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Do you think short quick circular routes  15 or 30 min round trips are more beneficial and reliable than cross city services?

They are when they're not on the way to anywhere and adding them to existing routes would create an inconvenient diversion. The 61 and 62, which nestle together nicely, are both like that.

Short routes I can think of....
ASDA Free Bus: Bishop Auckland Bus Station to Bishop Auckland Asda - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2266028613
Holy Island Shuttle: Car Parks - Lindisfarne Castle - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...3187842383
Mecca Bingo Bus: Gateshead Interchange - Gateshead Mecca Bingo - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0513124306
Newcastle Park and Ride: Blackett Street - Manors Car Park - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1867090717
South Shields Shuttle: Keppel Street - Gypsy Green Stadium - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0814748077
8X: South Hylton - Pennywell - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2986452722
40: Durham Cathedral Bus - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0981985628
60: Gateshead Interchange - Gateshead Baltic - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9485739377
68: Four Lane Ends - Tyneview Park DWP - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...6101025800
105: Byker Shopping Park - Byker Shields Road - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2152632714
A1: Metrocentre Bus Station - Metrocentre ASDA - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...6562624891
A3: Byker ASDA - Byker Metro & Denmark Street - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...3136613992
G1: Metrocentre Bus Station - Gala Bingo - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...7373231265
IKEA: Metrocentre Bus Station - IKEA - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1919978616
M12: Pelaw Metro - Fairways Estate - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2545496341
S1: Metrocentre Circular - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9119302117
S2: Metrocentre to Watermark (less than a mile each way) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9118547863

I dont know if this counts but there are several short routes on the 28/29 of 9 mins

From Grange Villa to CLS

The old 23 between Malone Gardens and Vigo Bridge must be up there. 

Think there was mention of the Chester to North Lodge service. 
Chester to Hilda Park has to be shorter. Might be the route with the fewest stops too!

(17 Oct 2023, 6:32 am)Andreos1 wrote The old 23 between Malone Gardens and Vigo Bridge must be up there. 

Think there was mention of the Chester to North Lodge service. 
Chester to Hilda Park has to be shorter. Might be the route with the fewest stops too!

I had said the 702 to North lodge and the 700 to Hilda park isn’t a bad shout either. If we are allowing former routes then the short lived 734 which was 4 minutes to pelaw estate and the 5 back might beat them both by a minute or two.

(17 Oct 2023, 7:05 am)User2613 wrote I had said the 702 to North lodge and the 700 to Hilda park isn’t a bad shout either. If we are allowing former routes then the short lived 734 which was 4 minutes to pelaw estate and the 5 back might beat them both by a minute or two.

I forgot all about that recent 734.
Like the Tyne & Wear 9 prefix, GNE using a 7 prefix in County Durham usually only means one thing.

That it's never going to last.

(16 Oct 2023, 9:36 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Short routes I can think of....
ASDA Free Bus: Bishop Auckland Bus Station to Bishop Auckland Asda - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2266028613
Holy Island Shuttle: Car Parks - Lindisfarne Castle - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...3187842383
Mecca Bingo Bus: Gateshead Interchange - Gateshead Mecca Bingo - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0513124306
Newcastle Park and Ride: Blackett Street - Manors Car Park - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1867090717
South Shields Shuttle: Keppel Street - Gypsy Green Stadium - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0814748077
8X: South Hylton - Pennywell - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2986452722
40: Durham Cathedral Bus - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...0981985628
60: Gateshead Interchange - Gateshead Baltic - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9485739377
68: Four Lane Ends - Tyneview Park DWP - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...6101025800
105: Byker Shopping Park - Byker Shields Road - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2152632714
A1: Metrocentre Bus Station - Metrocentre ASDA - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...6562624891
A3: Byker ASDA - Byker Metro & Denmark Street - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...3136613992
G1: Metrocentre Bus Station - Gala Bingo - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...7373231265
IKEA: Metrocentre Bus Station - IKEA - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...1919978616
M12: Pelaw Metro - Fairways Estate - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...2545496341
S1: Metrocentre Circular - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9119302117
S2: Metrocentre to Watermark (less than a mile each way) - https://www.flickr.com/photos/gjm-photog...9118547863

I said the 68 in my post, also on the subject of the short 60, there was also the 55 that ran Heworth- Gateshead via Saltmeadows Industrial Estate, another one to add, the 68 that ran Heworth- Bill Quay

Think of all the routes I've listed, I think the G1 (Metrocentre Bus Station to Gala Bingo) was the shorted route, running a distance of approx 0.5 miles in each direction. Was later replaced along with the A1 and IKEA shuttles by the S1 Metrocentre Circular.

(17 Oct 2023, 5:44 pm)V514DFT wrote I said the 68 in my post, also on the subject of the short 60, there was also the 55 that ran Heworth- Gateshead via Saltmeadows Industrial Estate, another one to add, the 68 that ran Heworth- Bill Quay

Was the 68 accessible to members of the public, or was it strictly "employees only"?

(17 Oct 2023, 10:34 pm)Rapidsnap wrote Think of all the routes I've listed, I think the G1 (Metrocentre Bus Station to Gala Bingo) was the shorted route, running a distance of approx 0.5 miles in each direction. Was later replaced along with the A1 and IKEA shuttles by the S1 Metrocentre Circular.

Was there once a Stockton - Chandler’s Wharf Mecca shuttle from Stagecoach which was similarly short?

(18 Oct 2023, 5:55 pm)Ianthegoon wrote Was the 68 accessible to members of the public, or was it strictly "employees only"?

Bit of both, employees only into the Tyneview Park Site, but it does stop at all stops along the way

(19 Oct 2023, 11:54 am)V514DFT wrote Bit of both, employees only into the Tyneview Park Site, but it does stop at all stops along the way

https://bustimes.org/services/68-four-la...benton#map - Not sure it does mind, not offically anyway.

It still runs btw whoever was asking whether it used to do stuff.

(19 Oct 2023, 11:58 am)Storx wrote https://bustimes.org/services/68-four-la...benton#map - Not sure it does mind, not offically anyway.

It still runs btw whoever was asking whether it used to do stuff.

Must of changed it, on its way back to FLE, it used to go under Benton Metro Bridge, then left onto Ashleigh Grove and up along Gothland Avenue to FLE, maybes they binned it when the 1 was re-routed to the Cobalt and decides to shorten the 68, not that it matters as its a peak only service

There used to be a Stanley-Shield Row service operated by a metrorider, I think it was the 702.  The other Stanley services to East Stanley and South Stanley won't have took much longer.