(19 Mar 2022, 4:04 pm)Adrian wrote Looks like this is going to drag on for even longer: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-60791617

(20 Mar 2022, 7:00 pm)busmanT wrote and so it should. The services using Blackett Street are the busiest in the north east and serve areas of high population density.
There aren’t really any suitable alternative routes with creating “bus jams” and little suitable pavement space for stops.
The last thing that operators need whilst trying to get passengers back on their buses is for them to be dumped at unsuitable stops.

(20 Mar 2022, 8:19 pm)Adrian wrote We'll see in time, but I can't see the Planning Inspectorate ruling in bus operators favour here.

The argument that a move away from Blackett Street would be to the detriment of elderly and disabled people is pretty baseless. Waiting facilities on Blackett Street are pretty poor and has become dangerous for pedestrians due to over-bussing. 

Arguably a bus station provides better waiting facilities for everyone, especially the elderly and disabled. It also takes customers straight into Eldon Square, avoiding the elements. If Blackett Street services were diverted into Eldon Square, then the only shopping area that would be slightly further away is the Grainger Market, but a Market Street/Newgate Street loop would actually improve access.

(20 Mar 2022, 8:32 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Could Eldon Square accommodate the Blackett Street buses?

(20 Mar 2022, 9:10 pm)Ianthegoon wrote I think that's the fundamental problem here!  Eldon Square is already too full of vehicles, there's bus congestion on the roads leading to and from that area, and there's then a whole raft of additional routes that need to be squeezed through the centre somehow.  I can see the benefit of making Blackett Street pedestrian, but I cannot work out where you could then send the buses!  At least, not without causing other problems.

(20 Mar 2022, 9:10 pm)Ianthegoon wrote I think that's the fundamental problem here!  Eldon Square is already too full of vehicles, there's bus congestion on the roads leading to and from that area, and there's then a whole raft of additional routes that need to be squeezed through the centre somehow.  I can see the benefit of making Blackett Street pedestrian, but I cannot work out where you could then send the buses!  At least, not without causing other problems.

(20 Mar 2022, 10:18 pm)ne14ne1 wrote The junctions around the city’s bus loop have been/are being upgraded with a combination of bus priority measures and new smart traffic signals. Additional bus stops are being created to accommodate the displayed routes. 
I don’t think cross city services should be put into bus stations as calling at a bus station takes longer than calling at an on street bus stop.

(20 Mar 2022, 10:56 pm)No Storx wrote They should turn Clayton Street / Nun Street / Grainger Street / Newgate Street into a gyratory imo with all buses running around in a clockwise circle (I know slightly longer for buses heading towards High Level) with Grainger Street still being two way. Then turn Newgate / Nun / Clayton streets into bus stops. They're all wide enough for bays if you removed the taxi ranks, loading bays and parking and all could do with a boost in trade.

The taxi rank can be moved into the bus stop opposite of Sinners which is unused.

(20 Mar 2022, 11:02 pm)Unber43 wrote Could they not knock down Eldon Square Garden thing, and just put another bus station in there for SC or which ever way they want to do it. So each company has a segregated area to stop in, obvs there might be the rare GCT bus or something. Or knock down whats infront of haymarket

(21 Mar 2022, 1:32 pm)N1cholas wrote Stagecoach are pushing the line of loosing passengers due to them having to walk from further away if blackett street is closed to all traffic, but the thousands of elderly passengers every day who board and alight on market street every day because they dont serve blackett street or eldon square seem to manage alright, so could the passenger who currently alight/board in blackett street, they will only moan for a week or so then just carry on regardless

(21 Mar 2022, 12:53 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Details of the bus loop, proposed new bus stops, relocated taxi ranks, restrictions on loading, pedestrianisation etc can all be found on NCCs website: 

https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/our-city/transport-improvements/city-centre-improvements

(21 Mar 2022, 12:53 pm)ne14ne1 wrote Details of the bus loop, proposed new bus stops, relocated taxi ranks, restrictions on loading, pedestrianisation etc can all be found on NCCs website: 

https://www.newcastle.gov.uk/our-city/transport-improvements/city-centre-improvements

(21 Mar 2022, 3:00 pm)Storx wrote Yeah I knew about that thanks.

Just think using Nun Street would be handy and give more space rather than having everything jammed up on Market Street. The streets not pleasant as it is anyway.

(21 Mar 2022, 3:34 pm)Andreos1 wrote Are the corners on Nun St feasible for buses to be going along there in a frequent basis?

On a slightly different note, if Nun St does come off, it will be interesting to see how the number of pedestrian vs bus incidents happen outside The Black Garter compare to the comings together on Blackett St.

(21 Mar 2022, 3:46 pm)Rob44 wrote the surely not send buses passed the garter???  the road is tiny along there

(21 Mar 2022, 3:34 pm)Andreos1 wrote Are the corners on Nun St feasible for buses to be going along there in a frequent basis?

On a slightly different note, if Nun St does come off, it will be interesting to see how the number of pedestrian vs bus incidents happen outside The Black Garter compare to the comings together on Blackett St.

(20 Mar 2022, 8:19 pm)Adrian wrote We'll see in time, but I can't see the Planning Inspectorate ruling in bus operators favour here.

The argument that a move away from Blackett Street would be to the detriment of elderly and disabled people is pretty baseless. Waiting facilities on Blackett Street are pretty poor and has become dangerous for pedestrians due to over-bussing. 

Arguably a bus station provides better waiting facilities for everyone, especially the elderly and disabled. It also takes customers straight into Eldon Square, avoiding the elements. If Blackett Street services were diverted into Eldon Square, then the only shopping area that would be slightly further away is the Grainger Market, but a Market Street/Newgate Street loop would actually improve access.

(22 Mar 2022, 4:30 pm)busmanT wrote With Blackett Street having been temporarily closed for various events over the last couple of years Stagecoach will know the reduction in passenger numbers is when its closed - so I think no. 1 concern for Stagecoach is fewer passengers and hence less revenue.

The bus loop is longer (time and mileage) than using Blackett Street so Stagecoach will need more buses to keep the same frequencies - no. 2 concern costs increased.

Many of the streets on the loop are already heavily used by buses and buses stopping - more buses will potentially create bus congestion which will only delay buses and result in fewer passengers.

(22 Mar 2022, 9:29 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote I think the no 2 concern realistically is at the heart of the Stagecoach objections.  They are perfectly happy using Market Street and Grainger Street for the 1/10/11/22/30/31/38 - none of which touch Blackett Street.  It's not as if the folks using those services are more likely to want to head to Bigg Market or Central Station than those on the 12/39/40/62/63 - it's just that it's operationally convenient for those services to run those routes through the city.  To claim it's to improve access is nonsense as the vast majority of passengers will have one service to choose from and get dumped wherever it happens to operate.

(22 Mar 2022, 9:29 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote I think the no 2 concern realistically is at the heart of the Stagecoach objections.  They are perfectly happy using Market Street and Grainger Street for the 1/10/11/22/30/31/38 - none of which touch Blackett Street.  It's not as if the folks using those services are more likely to want to head to Bigg Market or Central Station than those on the 12/39/40/62/63 - it's just that it's operationally convenient for those services to run those routes through the city.  To claim it's to improve access is nonsense as the vast majority of passengers will have one service to choose from and get dumped wherever it happens to operate.

(11 May 2022, 8:08 am)Andreos1 wrote Just recently, I've been thinking of the situation in Newcastle and how the current set up doesn't lend itself to cross-city centre connections (for terminating services), without changing buses or potentially incurring additional costs.
Newcastle isn't the biggest city in the world, but for those getting off a service at Haymarket or Eldon Square, it can be a pain if you're needing to be on the other side of the town, at say Central Station or the College.
To get from either from Haymarket or Eldon Square, means walking, transferring bus or getting the metro for a few stops. Maybe even getting off at Gateshead for northbound services.
None are very practical if you're lugging around stuff ahead of a trip on an Intercity type of service, or are taking in to account any physical limitations or inclement weather.

Will the Blackett St closure lend itself to services looping around the town and essentially opening up new, improved direct connections? 
Short-term, would it be feasible for a terminating service such as the 21, to allow passengers from Low Fell to stay on board at Eldon Square and get off at the Castle Keep? 

Prior to the High Level being changed to southbound only, it was possible to choose a service from South of the river and get pretty close to Central and that part of the town. Clearly, that's not the case now.