(07 Oct 2025, 7:30 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote I've had a little think about it and to make it easier I will talk about current services...

306 - leave it alone in terms of route  (except force it to visit North Shields HUB/Metro station/Interchange) 

307 Haymarket to North Shields - limited stop  Newcastle Haymarket - 5 Swans - Civic Centre Direct to Corner House (connections for pub and Freeman football etc - chilli road stop (for chilli connections then direct to Station Road stop on ramp approach  remove the wills building stop to create a fast approach then all stops like the 306   through battlehill to jolly bowman pub  (307 - does not serve Mullen Road Loop or Hadrian Park ) 

307 then turns right at jolly Bowman  left onto Coast Road off at Silverlink up past McDonald's  but turns Right to behind the cinema and use the direct Road through the Tyne Tunnel trading estate to the bottom (providing job opportunities and a connection from Newcastle and residents nearby)  turn left  then left again and drive up past the Percy Main depot then right onto verne road to North Shields HUB 

A little different route but creates a little mix and the service is still covered by bus services nearby.

308 - create the Same Express route but to go via Battlehill Drive all stops in both directions and not the Coast Road stops (passengers often walk from coast road to battlehill drive and and users needing to use the subway they are used to it to access amenities so it's a very little impact as users use battlehill shops services anyway

309 Same idea as above omit going via Mullen Road to save time too

Now as Hadrian Park and and Mullen Road are bus less (ish ) 

340 -341 would operate a new service 

340 Wallsend up Wiltshire Drive  Mullen Road Battlehill Drive  Hadrian Park back out loop around the roundabout at BNQ to serve the bingo and Wallsend pub (future development here so locals will use the service) then down onto Coast Road and up silverlink into Cobalt and to Northumberland Park

341  Operates Newcastle Haymarket  to Chicken Road observing all stops  creating it a "slower service"  and hitting Wiltshire Drive  and Mullen Road  to Northumberland Park. 

350 351 is removed.

342 from Wallsend  will operate via Wiltshire drive  and run around holystone to provide a link.

351 if anything operates from Holystone to Northumberland park  hourly and ( 342 already providing a link too) 


There is no loss for the 350 or 351 being curtailed. 

For example the last bus leaves at Haymarket at 2325 but so does the 308 leaves the next stand at 2325 so they follow each other 

Creating express style routes will benefit the later passengers wanting a 20min plus journey 

Chilli road going into town is to be used as the traffic is usually up to the chilli road up ramp so up and down into a bus lane is a gain to save time 

It also has the potential to not need 22X or X39 

Additional links to Tyne Tunnel trading Estate Northumberland Park and faster Coast Road journey times

(08 Oct 2025, 9:47 am)ian foster wrote The bus network in North Tyneside has been a complete mess since 2010. i would bring back an express bus from Whitley Bay via Marden Estate and onto the 308 route at the Foxhunters then fast from Billy Mill to Haymarket stopping only at Willington Square.  The 306 would be withdrawn between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay replaced by a new local service to Cobalt from North Shields via Tynemouth, Marden and New York.

(08 Oct 2025, 10:34 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote believe it or not adding Mullen road into a route increases journey times by 4 mins only but adds about 8-10 stops but in your head it feels longer 

(08 Oct 2025, 10:34 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote I think the billy mill express is to large and potentially means it could run on a Single deck or mini as it would miss key points. 

my suggestion caters for regular leisure users  people wanting to visit cinema shopping etc...  a mix of work users throughout the day and night and other links 

believe it or not adding Mullen road into a route increases journey times by 4 mins only but adds about 8-10 stops but in your head it feels longer 

I know that on Battlehill Drive if a 306 or 307 turns up the 306 is chosen for the psychological service of it being loads quicker 

You need to remember to operate a single bus it costs at least £40 per hour

(08 Oct 2025, 10:34 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote I think the billy mill express is to large and potentially means it could run on a Single deck or mini as it would miss key points. 

my suggestion caters for regular leisure users  people wanting to visit cinema shopping etc...  a mix of work users throughout the day and night and other links 

believe it or not adding Mullen road into a route increases journey times by 4 mins only but adds about 8-10 stops but in your head it feels longer 

I know that on Battlehill Drive if a 306 or 307 turns up the 306 is chosen for the psychological service of it being loads quicker 

You need to remember to operate a single bus it costs at least £40 per hour

(09 Oct 2025, 5:54 am)L469 YVK wrote Not if it's already running 5 minutes late as a result of traffic at the Coast.....then gets hammered at Noble's on Mullen Road.

When the 309 ran via Selby Gardens......drivers could 'safely' (or maybe not unknown to us haha) make up time and arrive into Haymarket on time even if losing a bit time earlier en-route.

Since the 309 was re-routed, the timekeeping has not been as solid IMO. Thankfully, the 309 is keeping the B9TLs as I doubt StreetDecks could keep to time on a PVR of 8x.

(06 Oct 2025, 7:35 pm)Storx wrote Even known it's an interesting idea, I'm not really sure it's needed.

Like just picking out routes you could easily do something like

43: X73 Route, but flip it with the 6 between Tantobie Crossroads and the Pack Horse giving Burnopfield a much faster route to Metrocentre / Newcastle (Every 30 Minutes, Hourly Evenings / Sunday)
44: Current 6 route, again flip it with the X73 between Tantobie Crossroads and the Pack Horse giving Stanley a faster Metrocentre link (Hourly All Day / Sunday)
44A: Same route as above, but via Hobson rather than Tanfield (Hourly Daytimes)

X30: Via Gateshead, otherwise no changes (Hourly Daytime)
X31: Via Gateshead, otherwise no changes (Hourly Daytime)
X32: Withdrawn
X70: Run direct between Dipton and Burnopfield, otherwise no changes (Hourly Daytime)
X71: Via Gateshead, otherwise no changes (Hourly Daytimes, Every 2 Hours Evening / Sunday)
X72: Withdrawn, replaced by 43/44
X73: Withdrawn, replaced by 43/44 

X40: Consett - Leadgate - Non Stop - Annfield Plain - Stanley - Non Stop - Sunniside - Lobley Hill - Non Stop (via A184) - Newcastle (Hourly All Day / Sunday) - Map of route

X301: Newcastle to Whickham via X30/X31/X71 route then do the 301 loop round Whickham (Every 20 Minutes, Hourly Evenings/Sunday)

It's not a million miles away from where things are now but the main towns would get the new X40 giving the fastest links between them and Newcastle with the main towns of Stanley and Consett supplemented with the X30/X31/X70/X71. 

All the villages are then covered by the new 43/44 which is basically just the 6/X73 anyway and everywhere has an evening service with the same route as their daily service which isn't the case right now.

(11 Oct 2025, 8:38 am)L469 YVK wrote Your ideas are pretty good. I'm not sure the X40 could sustain an 'all day' operation although could run at peak times and maybe take advantage of CentreLink. I'd also be tempted to look at putting Medomsley into the 45 corridor. 


Express services:

X30 - Every 30 mins Mon-Sat daytime | Evenings & Sunday daytime every 60 mins 

Consett - Leadgate - Dipton - Burnopfield - Sunniside - Team Valley North - Gateshead - Newcastle

Note: X30 is basically a re-numbered X70 to keep in-line with the X31 & X32 below


X31 - Hourly Mon-Sat all day & Sunday daytime

**Stanley - Shield Row - Sunniside - Lobley Hill Estate - Team Valley North - Gateshead - Newcastle
** 2 hourly Sunday extension to Lanchester via X32 route below after Stanley


X32 - Hourly Mon-Sat daytime

Lanchester - Maiden Law - Burnhope -  Quaking Houses & South Moor - Stanley - East Stanley - Sunniside - Team Valley North - Gateshead - Newcastle


X44 - Every 20 mins Mon-Sat daytime | Hourly evenings & Sundays - Basically the X301 suggestion but less of a 'mouthful' of a number

Newcastle - Central Station - Teams A184 - Dunston - Whickham Front Street - Fellside Park - Broadway - Whickham Front Street then back to Newcastle


Other services:

43 - Every 30 mins Mon-Sat daytime | Hourly evenings & Sundays

Stanley - New Kyo - Annfield Plain - Catchgate - Harelaw - Dipton - Tantobie - Burnopfield - Fellside Road - MetroCentre - Teams & Askew Road West - Newcastle


44 - Hourly all day daily

Stanley - Tanfield Lea - Tantobie - Tanfield - Crookgate Bank - Sunniside Kingsway - Broadway - Broom Lane - Watergate Crescent - Whickham Front Street - MetroCentre - Teams & Askew Road West - Newcastle


44A - Every 60 mins Mon-Sat daytime

Stanley - Tanfield Lea - Tantobie - Hobson - Sunniside Kingsway - Broadway - Broom Lane - Watergate Crescent - Whickham Front Street - MetroCentre - Teams & Askew Road West - Newcastle


45 - Every 30 mins Mon-Sat daytime | Hourly evenings & Sundays

Same as X45 and still limited stop MetroCentre to Newcastle


46 - Every 30 mins Mon-Sat daytime | Hourly Mon-Sat evenings & Sunday daytime

Consett - Leadgate - Medomsley - Hamsterley Mill then as 45 to Newcastle


47 - Same as now but Consett to Blackhall Mill reduced to hourly during Mon-Sat daytime


Note that the 43, 44, 44A would run double back via Tyne Street and Centrelink during AM peaks.


Not a great deal of difference other than the X40, and also the X30 & X31 running more frequent during evenings & Sundays.

Also, if the 45/46/47 was re-introduced to a 10 minute frequency Rowlands Gill to Newcastle - is there a need for so many deckers including on the X30's? A batch of new B8RLE's mixed in with some of the existing E400MMC would be perfect for all of the above.....offering the right capacity and frequency with a reliable allocation. Not forgetting that the B8RLE is actually quite a good performer on the fuel considering it's more heavy-duty than a StreetLite/E200MMC. Worst case if growth comes and more deckers are needed, hoy the B8RLEs on the 8/78.

(11 Oct 2025, 11:18 am)Storx wrote Interesting ideas but quite a big PVR increase there.

Personally if I was going back up to the 6 buses through Rowlands Gill, I'd redo the whole Western side so it's something like:


which would end up with:
45: Red (Every 30 Minutes, Hourly Evenings / Sundays)
46: Orange (Every 30 Minutes, Hourly Evenings / Sundays)
47: Purple (Every Hour All Day / Sunday)
47A: Pink (Every Hour Daytimes)
V5: Withdrawn
X70: No Changes (Every 30 Minutes Daytimes)
X71: Withdrawn

It gives most places a decent bus service during day, at least 30 minutes bar the pots of houses here and there, and everyone an hourly service in the evening with those in the Blackhill area not having to go on a magical mystery tour with journey times which are pretty unacceptable right now really. 

It's technically no extra buses between Meadomsley / Ebchester and Consett either since it's utilising the existing V5 and X71.

(12 Oct 2025, 7:30 am)L469 YVK wrote I actually like that! Only question though.....can a full size single / double decker serve The Dene? I recall GNE had issues during covid serving the Dene when tagged onto the X71 route unless it was maybe a different issue.

(12 Oct 2025, 7:44 am)Storx wrote Doesn't seem to be an issue with deckers tbh, they seem to be on the V5 most days now anyway. 

Saloons might be an issue though, with the extra length but I'm not sure tbh.

Edit: Appears they can aswell, see: https://bustimes.org/services/v5-crookhall-the-dene-via-consett-leadgate-medomsl/vehicles?date=2025-10-06

(12 Oct 2025, 5:03 pm)L469 YVK wrote And it looks like B9TLs can too !

I really do like your Derwentside ideas! Looking at the current vs estimate PVR's on the Derwentside to Newcastle services:

2025 - 29

2022 - 25

2021 - 32

2019 (incl the M6/7/8) - 34

These suggestions including the Whickham express based on a rough estimate would come in at 38. However, the quality of service and offering to passengers would dramatically improve. The new links created by the 46, 47 & 47A could potentially qualify for BSIP funding too.

If passengers have a simple, easy to use and easy to market network to rely on without the gimmicks or a myriad of meaningless route numbers going on a mystery tour, they will use the services.

(16 Oct 2025, 9:51 pm)S830OFT wrote Some suggestions for GNE Gateshead to try create some new links.

28 - Service will additionaly call into Beacon Lough on Sundew Road only to ensure the continuation of a direct bus to Gateshead during the day & two buses p/h to Newcastle.

Voltra 53/54 - Services extended to Regent Centre or Wallsend to replace service Q3. These services will no longer operate as continous circular services, although service 53/54 will run together in both directions to offer a reasonable amount of buses within the Saltwell Park area with their combined frequency of every ten minutes. Both services will start & finish at Gateshead.

53 - Up to every 20 minutes
54 - Up to every 20 minutes

(53 - Gateshead | Saltwell Park | Bensham Court | Central Station | Newcastle Monument, Grey Street | Quayside | Walker Road | St. Peter's Basin | Walker Road | Fossway | Wallsend High Street | Wallsend Metro)

(54 - Gateshead | Bensham Court Flats | Saltwell Park | Gateshead | Quayside | Newcastle, Grey Street | Pilgrim Street | Jesmond | Gosforth High Street | Regent Centre)

57 - Service will be withdrawn & replaced by adjustments to services 28/67/69/91/92

58 - Journeys to Follingsby will no longer operate, however the X58 will continue to operate its one journey in each direction during the peak.

67 - This service will additionally serve Ellen Wilkinson Estate for journeys to Metrocentre only.

69 - Service will additionaly serve Heworth Interchange in both directions after Heworth Grange. Journeys towards Wardley will no longer serve Kirkwood Gardens, although passengers will be able to remain on the bus for this stop when the bus changes to service 92.

90 - Service withdrawn & replaced by extended service 92.

91 - This service will run hourly to offer much improved links to Team Valley Trading Estate throughout the day from Newcastle & parts of Gateshead. This service will only serve Ellen Wilkinson Estate for journeys to Newcastle only.

(Wardley | Ellen Wilkinson Estate | Heworth Interchange | Colegate | Fewster Square | Wealcroft | Whitehills Estate | Beacon Lough | Wrekenton | Harlow Green | Team Valley Trading Estate | Nonstop | Newcastle)

92 - This service will run hourly to offer much improved links to Team Valley Trading Estate throughout the day from Blaydon & parts of Gateshead. This service will only serve Kirkwood Gardens for journeys to Winlaton only.

(Wardley Turning Circle | Kirkwood Gardens | Fewster Square | Wealcroft | Whitehills Estate | Beacon Lough | Wrekenton | Harlow Green | Team Valley Trading Estate | Nonstop | Metrocentre | Swalwell Monument | Blaydon | Winlaton)

Wardley will benefit from four buses per hour, ideally timed with a sufficient time gap between each departing bus, with improved connections to Team Valley, additional buses to Metrocentre & Winlaton & a bus to Newcastle continued.

Services 67/91 will interwork therefore would allow passengers to remain on-board after Wardley for Ellen Wilkinson Estate, with services 69/92 interworking allowing those passengers to remain on for Kirkwood Gardens.

Service 67/91 will interwork (Mon - Sat Daytimes)
Service 69/92 will interwork (Mon - Sat Daytimes)

Evenings & Sundays -
Service 69 will run hourly, however due to tight running time will NOT serve Heworth Interchange, with service 91 providing this link for Evenings & Sundays.
Service 91 will only run between Heworth, Wardley & Ellen Wilkinson Estate on an increased every 30 minute frequency.

(05 Nov 2025, 6:17 pm)V514DFT wrote Been talking in the Arriva thread, so thought i'd bring it over the right thread

55-  Forest Hall- Wardley/Follingsby Amazon, pretty straightforward really, its the 355 merged with the 57/58
another one i was thinking of
56- Great Park- Sunderland
56 merged with the Q3 although probably not via Osbourne Road
Q3-  numbered to Q1, and curtailed at Hollywood Avenue, going the other way  extends to the Cobalt via Howdon/ High Howdon reinstating links that were lost 5½ years ago through the loss of the 42/42A

(08 Nov 2025, 6:12 pm)logidoodah wrote Some say these suggestions for upgrades to services provided are not necessary or stupid, but this has been a long-term project of mine, creating the maps, working out PVRs & typing them up. So, as we all know, GNE likes to claim their network is struggling at every given opportunity, and as far as everyone not inside the GNE bubble can see, it is that they haven't adapted very well to the 21st Century (never mind Covid, that just sped up the process of managed decline in the industry). Well,  of course, besides trimming the fat and isolating people or cancelling routes and winning them back as contracts with no effort of trying to improve patronage, "make them sustainably viable"

I have re-designed each area that GNE covers, but I thought I would start with Consett, West Gateshead & Durham links. Pictures are attached, and route colours match their writing below. Bear in mind, I am not interested in Branding and just used the terminology to properly separate the different corridors. Also please ignore all of the grey lines on the maps these are other routes I have drawn but coloured them in grey so its not confusing as they're not related

Coast to Country (Combined PVR=14)
7 Sunderland to Stanley (via Houghton-le-Spring, Chester-le-St & South Stanley)
8 Sunderland to Consett (via Washington, Chester-le-St, Beamish & Stanley)
New Connections: Beamish with Consett & Houghton to Chester-le-St
Corridor upgrades: include Faster links between Chester-le-St & Houghton/Washington/Sunderland (via Chester Rd) and better coordination of services, meaning 15 mins combined frequency
Any negatives?: Bournmoor lost has its direct link to Sunderland

Tyne-Valley (Combined PVR=17)
10 Newcastle to Hexham (via Metrocentre, Blaydon, Prudhoe & Corbridge)
10A Newcastle to Prudhoe (via Team, Metrocentre, Crawcrook & Tyne View Retail Park)
10B Newcastle to Blackhall Mill (via Teams, Metrocentre, Crawcrook & Rockwood Hill)
New Connections: 10A improves local journeys in Prudhoe by "going round the streets"
Corridor upgrades: numbering makes more sense, each route every 30 mins combined into 10 min frequency from Crawcrook to Newcastle
Any negatives?: 10B upped to 2 bph to keep Chopwell links/frequency, however longer journey to Metrocentre (compared to current 47). Highfield loses direct link to Metrocentre

West Durham (Combined PVR=16) - X15 interworks with X70
14 - Castleside to Durham (via Consett, Lanchester, Langley Park & Arnison Centre)
X15 - Consett to Durham (via Leadgate, Lanchester & Witton Gilbert)
16 - Shotley Bridge H to Durham (via Consett, Dipton, Stanley & Sacriston)
17 - Metrocentre to Durham (via Sunniside, Dipton, Stanley & Sacriston)
New Connections: Castleside/Consett/Lanchester bolted onto 14 route means improved local connections to Arnsion Centre & 17 gives better connections to the Metrocentre.
Corridor upgrades:  Services simplified and each route being every 30 mins means Lanchester has more bph, also more people should use the X15 as the 14/16 are not meant for end-to-end journeys. 14 can be more profitable and not be empty by Langley Park
Any negatives?: V5 southern section withdrawn, unsure what to do with northern section

Beamish & Stanley (Combined PVR = 11)
28 - Newcastle to Durham (via Gateshead, Stanley, Beamish & Chester-le-St)
29 - Newcastle to Lanchester (via Gateshead, Sunniside, Stanley & Burnhope)
30 - Newcastle to Quaking Houses (via Gateshead, Sunniside, Tantobie & Stanley)

New Connections: Newcastle to Beamish to Durham 
Corridor upgrades:  Bus every 15 mins from Stanley to Gateshead & Newcastle (28-29-28-30), faster journey from Newcastle to Beamish
Any negatives?: Slightly longer journey than current X30/X31, but this has better connections & higher frequency, & Catchgate loses its direct service to Newcastle.

Derwentside (Combined PVR = 15) - X70 interworks with X15
45 Newcastle - Consett Delves (via Metrocentre, Rowlands Gill, Medomsley & Leadgate)
46 Newcastle - Consett (via Metrocentre, Rowlands Gill, Burnopfield & Shotley Bridge)
47 Newcastle - Consett (Blaydon, Rowlands Gill, Chopwell & Shotley Bridge)
X70 Newcastle - Consett (via Gateshead, Whickham
New Connections: Newcastle to Delves, Blaydon & Consett, Newcastle Business Park to Dertwentside & Consett, Leadgate to Metrocentre, Whickham to Consett
Corridor upgrades:  46 reinstated, to keep the 4 bph to Metrocentre
Any negatives?: X45 will lose the "X" express feel but will still be roughly the same as before, just pushes people to X70 for express journey. You would have to build a small bit of road between Oviington Court & Redmire Drive for the 45 route in Templetown.

X15/X70 combined PVR = 7

(09 Nov 2025, 12:17 am)Storx wrote Must say this seems really confusing with buses bouncing around everywhere.

Unless I'm missing something; Ouston, Kibblesworth and Dunston View, don't have a service to Newcastle anymore since you've took away the 28/29 and whatever X's going through Whickham these days? Also there's no bus service from Washington, on the existing 8 corridor towards Sunderland either?

That's before imo:
Shotley Bridge to Newcastle is way too slow
Stanley to Metrocentre is way too slow
The 2/8 are duplicating each other
The 32/78 are duplicating each other
The estates of Winlaton/Blaydon lose their direct Newcastle link. I don't disagree with sending a bus up that way though, to be fair.

(09 Nov 2025, 1:39 am)logidoodah wrote Ah I see why you think that, I forgot to put which routes they would replace and that if something wasn't mentioned it will be covered in my other areas that's in doing.

In terms of Ouston & Whickham, I have a fix for that which will be addressed when I can be bothered to type up my next area changes. But anything I have put in will replace any current routes unless stated like with the V5. 
This answers your question about the 8 duplicating the 2 and the 7 duplicating the 32.

And I feel like my routes are still faster than the 6 (which goes around the world) and a lot easier to understand than the current X30/X31/X32/X70/X71/X72/X73

Regarding the 46/47 they will take the roughly the same amount of time as now. The 46 is slightly longer than what the X45 is now but only takes 5-10 mins extra to go via Burnopfield.

Appreciate your opinion though 

(09 Nov 2025, 8:37 am)Storx wrote Yeah that's fair, not going to lie. I always think they should revert back to the old 43/44/X30/X31/X70/X71 like it was for awhile around the Stanley area, it was much better than what it is now with too many X's going in different ways confusing the hell out of anyone.

It's not miles away from what it was now anyway if you swapped some minor things around ie.

X73 = 43
6 = 44
Drop the X30/X31 to every hour each and send them via Gateshead
Send the X70/X71 via Gateshead
Swap the 6 and X73 from the Pack Horse to Tantobie Crossroads, ie the fast route via Burnopfield; slower route via Catchgate (to even them out a bit)

I don't disagree with the Meadomsley bus though, but I'd be tempted to send that to Shotley Bridge running direct then in turn send the 47, also via Meadomsley taking over the V5 (fixes that issue). Gives Shotley Bridge a proper express and then all the nooks and crannies into the 47 where you might pick up 1 or 2 people.

(11 Oct 2025, 11:18 am)Storx wrote Interesting ideas but quite a big PVR increase there.

Personally if I was going back up to the 6 buses through Rowlands Gill, I'd redo the whole Western side so it's something like:


which would end up with:
45: Red (Every 30 Minutes, Hourly Evenings / Sundays)
46: Orange (Every 30 Minutes, Hourly Evenings / Sundays)
47: Purple (Every Hour All Day / Sunday)
47A: Pink (Every Hour Daytimes)
V5: Withdrawn
X70: No Changes (Every 30 Minutes Daytimes)
X71: Withdrawn

It gives most places a decent bus service during day, at least 30 minutes bar the pots of houses here and there, and everyone an hourly service in the evening with those in the Blackhill area not having to go on a magical mystery tour with journey times which are pretty unacceptable right now really. 

It's technically no extra buses between Meadomsley / Ebchester and Consett either since it's utilising the existing V5 and X71.

(09 Nov 2025, 10:11 am)L469 YVK wrote I must admit, l loved your idea with the 45/46/47 which would also replace the V5 & X71 in hindsight too - with quite a smart idea to make the 46 more viable too.

As I've said before. Derwentside is a very similar demographic to Blyth, Bedlington and Ashington. Arriva have been resillient not only during covid but even with the ABTRL - give or take a few potential future tweaks. If they still had the old X/EX and 40's nonsense that eventually got morphed into simplier and easier routes such as the X10/X11 - would be a different story IMO.

All the 40's from Stanley & Consett had the MetroCentre going for them to make money.

---

https://www.northeastbuses.co.uk/attachment.php?thumbnail=11055

This, especially the 46! ⬆️⬆️

I also mentioned it a good few posts back, but do all the Stanley / Consett to Newcastle boards need deckers? Volvo B8RLEs thrown in would be perfect for some trips. Worst case if routes grow and they're not suited capacity wise, put them on the 8/78.

(09 Nov 2025, 10:52 am)Storx wrote Aye that's the one, it's just much tidier imo. There's too many buses one going quick, one going slow, an express which is longer than everything else. It's just a mess right now and they give most areas a link to the Metrocentre like you said, which might not be a million passengers but it's a place - unlike Dunston where people do not want to be (no offence Dunston).

The X30/X31/X32/X70/X71/X72/X73 for someone wanting to go Lobley Hill or Dunston must be up there with the most confusing bus routes in the country. Like who'd think the X30/X31/X71 are combined, the X32/X70/X72 are combined and the X73 is just something else altogether but maybe I'm just stupid... Imagine trying to explain that to someone when they're all going to Consett or Stanley, it's bad enough to tell them when the buses go to completely different places with completely different numbers never mind anything else.

The X73 being by far the most confusing, since it ain't express, doesn't go to Consett (70's), doesn't go to Sunniside (30's and 70's) and you'd be mad to use it from Stanley to Newcastle the only real common route, bar Dipton which then doesn't have the X71. Why it's numbered that just does not make sense.

(09 Nov 2025, 10:11 am)L469 YVK wrote I must admit, l loved your idea with the 45/46/47 which would also replace the V5 & X71 in hindsight too - with quite a smart idea to make the 46 more viable too.

As I've said before. Derwentside is a very similar demographic to Blyth, Bedlington and Ashington. Arriva have been resillient not only during covid but even with the ABTRL - give or take a few potential future tweaks. If they still had the old X/EX and 40's nonsense that eventually got morphed into simplier and easier routes such as the X10/X11 - would be a different story IMO.

All the 40's from Stanley & Consett had the MetroCentre going for them to make money.

---

https://www.northeastbuses.co.uk/attachment.php?thumbnail=11055

This, especially the 46! ⬆️⬆️

I also mentioned it a good few posts back, but do all the Stanley / Consett to Newcastle boards need deckers? Volvo B8RLEs thrown in would be perfect for some trips. Worst case if routes grow and they're not suited capacity wise, put them on the 8/78.

(09 Nov 2025, 1:47 pm)TheClumsyPineapple wrote As someone who uses a lot of the services. The X46 being brought back is needed quite badly as the 47 is too slow. The X70 isnt busy enough to even be hourly its mostly dead during the day. However at peak times I still think deckers are atill required. Morning 45 carries full and standing deckers. Peak X70 X71 also carry large loads meaning a decker is still required imo.

I think the death of the local ventures should be looked into as it was well utilises by the old people. Especially the V3 V4

(09 Nov 2025, 3:08 pm)L469 YVK wrote I think with a clean 10 minute headway between Rowlands Gill and Newcastle, some runs could get away with single deckers.

Likewise for the X70 - some getting away with singles and others needing deckers. But a more simple service with a better frequency will increase passenger numbers overtime.

(09 Nov 2025, 3:13 pm)TheClumsyPineapple wrote There really is no demand at all for the X70. Its literally dead excluding the morning and evening peak. 
I politely disagree with single deckers as the entire corridor is busy on X45/47 deckers are needed for the route. As even from consett there are healthy loads. Single deckers make no sense for it as they're always rammed whenever singles are put on.

(09 Nov 2025, 3:13 pm)TheClumsyPineapple wrote There really is no demand at all for the X70. Its literally dead excluding the morning and evening peak. 
I politely disagree with single deckers as the entire corridor is busy on X45/47 deckers are needed for the route. As even from consett there are healthy loads. Single deckers make no sense for it as they're always rammed whenever singles are put on.

(09 Nov 2025, 3:29 pm)Storx wrote It's the hourly that's a big problem though, it's borderline unusable for people who aren't working on fixed times as you could be sitting around 45 minutes if you time things wrong.

It's why everything ideally needs to be every 30 minutes so it's actually useable. 

There's way too many hourly services right now imo. Obviously, assuming the routes you replied to, if it failed, you could get rid of it as it's mostly covered by other services anyway hence the day time running only but it's got a better chance being more frequent imo especially places like Leadgate etc.