(21 Oct 2021, 9:47 pm)Rapidsnap wrote This Bus Gate which goes from Gateshead High Street, under the Gateshead Highway Flyover and crossing over the link roads underneath (also looks to be providing an oppotunity for buses heading up Durham Rd / Old Durham Road a quicker exit too) and onto Sunderland Road past the old GNE depot. https://www.google.com/maps/@54.9593445,-1.5984136,3a,75y,329.05h,74.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1syyzj5FYZlfvVOZBBmDZizg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Mind they've been trying to make it since 2017 https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/media/3836/NPIF-Sunderland-Road-2017/pdf/NPIF-Sunderland-Road-2017.pdf

(21 Oct 2021, 8:11 pm)V514DFT wrote Atleast they've left NT alone for a change (knock knock,touch wood)

(21 Oct 2021, 9:47 pm)Rapidsnap wrote This Bus Gate which goes from Gateshead High Street, under the Gateshead Highway Flyover and crossing over the link roads underneath (also looks to be providing an oppotunity for buses heading up Durham Rd / Old Durham Road a quicker exit too) and onto Sunderland Road past the old GNE depot. https://www.google.com/maps/@54.9593445,-1.5984136,3a,75y,329.05h,74.89t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1syyzj5FYZlfvVOZBBmDZizg!2e0!7i16384!8i8192

Mind they've been trying to make it since 2017 https://www.gateshead.gov.uk/media/3836/NPIF-Sunderland-Road-2017/pdf/NPIF-Sunderland-Road-2017.pdf

(22 Oct 2021, 5:03 am)L469 YVK wrote If an extra 2x Euro 6 StreetLites ever become available, I'd like to see the 1 extended the "other way".

Obviously there'd have to be timetable changes to create even headway with the 309 but it would be popular especially during the summer months not forgetting the £1.70 fare.

(22 Oct 2021, 3:27 pm)V514DFT wrote Theres loads of ideas ive had recently one being Newcastle to Blyth Via North Shields and Whitley Bay by extending the 310, the 11 becoming the 311 extending to Newcastle via Station Road and Coast Road and joining the Cobalt and Coast brand,current 311 re-numbered to 312,the list goes on

(22 Oct 2021, 4:59 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote When the 310 was the 300, didnt it go to Whitley Bay?

(23 Oct 2021, 1:42 am)Train8261 wrote Can anyone remember the 307 (Newcastle to Benton Asda) I think that was the route

(23 Oct 2021, 6:49 am)Rapidsnap wrote The 17 was dual door Renowns.

The 307 that just did Newcastle to Asda was ran by Arriva, now covered by 51/51a.

When GNE last ran it, it did Newcastle - Coast Rd - Wiltshire Drive - Wallsend. However it had many variations beforehand.

(22 Oct 2021, 6:03 am)deanmachine wrote Yeah I've just driven past it, it's still a pile of rubble it's not getting finished anytime soon.

(23 Oct 2021, 5:56 am)Keeiajs wrote Did that used to be run by the dual-door cadet/renown.

(23 Oct 2021, 6:49 am)Rapidsnap wrote The 17 was dual door Renowns.

The 307 that just did Newcastle to Asda was ran by Arriva, now covered by 51/51a.

When GNE last ran it, it did Newcastle - Coast Rd - Wiltshire Drive - Wallsend. However it had many variations beforehand.

(23 Oct 2021, 8:52 am)RMF1254 wrote The 307 inter worked with 17 for a while if I remember correctly. At that time they used ex Oxford dual door Volvo B10BLEs in yellow Centurian livery. The 307 used many different vehicles over the years from Atlanteans and Spectras up to low floor era Tridents along with most types that Percy Main had to offer. I often wonder why they don’t route the 311 around Wiltshire Drive to give a more frequent service to Newcastle.

(23 Oct 2021, 12:52 pm)KingSlayerRBLX wrote well the 6 to Lanchester from Newcastle will last nearly 2 hours now (1HR and 35 Minutes)
but it is nice that people of Lanchester can have their bus back to Metro and Newcastle!

(23 Oct 2021, 4:16 pm)L469 YVK wrote Would be no point of the 311 then as there'd be no even headway with the 309/310 through Battle Hill Drive.

(24 Oct 2021, 9:42 am)RMF1254 wrote I didn’t think the 309/310/311 were that even a head way now. Besides Battle Hill have 13 buses an hour to Newcastle (306/309/310/311), Wiltshire Drive currently have one (51). Anyway, it was only a thought.

(24 Oct 2021, 1:46 pm)ian foster wrote Too many buses through Battle Hill. Let's re introduce the 44 with a nice fast run down the coast Road. Even the 308 is too slow for my liking.

(24 Oct 2021, 9:42 am)RMF1254 wrote I didn’t think the 309/310/311 were that even a head way now. Besides Battle Hill have 13 buses an hour to Newcastle (306/309/310/311), Wiltshire Drive currently have one (51). Anyway, it was only a thought.

(24 Oct 2021, 2:12 pm)L469 YVK wrote At the minute, there's 13ph (12ph on Saturdays). That's down from 15ph before Jan 2020.

The way things are going, it's only a matter of time before Arriva streamline the 306 & 308 to include more efficient interworking patterns and a similar capacity but with a reduced PVR (every 10 combined Billy Mill to Newcastle using deckers). That will no doubt see off the 306 from Battle Hill Drive to maintain reliability and keep an even service on the Coast Road with the 308.

If Arriva do streamline, it will mean:
- GNE = Main operator between Newcastle & Station Road and also to High Farm & Battle Hill.
- ANE = Still the dominant operator for Willington Sqaure, Silverlink, parts of West Chirton / Norham Road and Billy Mill.

(24 Oct 2021, 3:26 pm)Storx wrote The 306/308 won't be decreasing in frequency. The fact they've went back to every 15 minutes pretty much straight away whereas numerous other routes including the X10/X11 and 55 have stayed down in the frequency and are allocated deckers over the X7/X8/X9 shows how important they are to Arriva.

The 306/308 has other purposes than the Coast Road, they just happen to run along there. It's like saying the 43 should be cut in frequency because the Q3, 44, 45, 46, X10, X11, X21, X22, X15, X18, 30, 31 and so on serve Gosforth.

(24 Oct 2021, 6:23 pm)L469 YVK wrote The Monday to Friday frequency has re-increased however, the Saturday frequency remains at every 20 minutes each. No doubt Arriva have initially re-increased to every 15 minutes each so they can at least assess passenger numbers. The X6 has already been withdrawn as a 10/20 minute service on the 306/308 wouldn't accommodate the X6 and no doubt the X6 would've probably made 'some' money for Arriva going against the flow as opposed to a full 15 minute service on the 306.

To implement newer and more efficient interworking patterns would take time including planning rotas and sourcing suitable vehicles (most likely extra DB300s). Not forgetting that Arriva could also bid to extend the 51A and partially replace the 359.

Billy Mill, West Chirton, Silverlink, Willington Square and Selby Gardens are still good strongholds for Arriva. However, they could still provide roughly (give or take) the same capacity on these sections of route with lower operational costs and a more streamlined frequency. And although there's other purposes than the Coast Road for the 308, lets not forget that the 309 (even before the £1.70 / £1 fares) offers fairly serious competition.

Now your point regarding the 43, that again has good strongholds and in fact, I'd say Wideopen is rather underserved. a 6/7/7 frequency with the 43/44/45 (similar to the 309/310/311) would actually provide more capacity and also offer a more streamlined service with the 45 to / from Lockey Park in Wideopen. At the moment, the 43 carries all the burden and no actual coordination with the 45.

(24 Oct 2021, 7:16 pm)Storx wrote The X6 got cancelled because it was constantly dead and people are working from home now, there's no need for the service.

Also the bus is every 20 minutes on a Saturday because there's a driver shortage and driver's are less likely to do overtime on a weekend hence the absolutely horrendous cancellations in Consett and Washington yesterday. The 306/308 are the least of the problems in Arriva Northumbria for loadings; there's the 52, 54, X9 and X14 to take that record, unless it's making a loss then there won't be changes. It makes no sense to put a bus upto 15 minutes to 'test loadings'. You'd put the bus upto every 20 minutes and if the demand is high then go upto every 15 minutes like Stagecoach has been slowly doing. Doing it the other way is illogical especially when you have a shortage of drivers.

Also the people of Marden don't want the 51A extended with a bus around the North East going to Newcastle via absolutely nowhere, I'm sure ian foster if he reads this can vouch for that. It's about a link to Tynemouth Morrisons from Tynemouth and Marden estate more than anything as they lost the link when the X8 (might have been X9) was withdrawn. It's nothing to do with Newcastle, most people from around there walk to Cullercoats Metro or Foxhunters so there's no benefit of running quicker buses (sadly).

(24 Oct 2021, 7:16 pm)Storx wrote The X6 got cancelled because it was constantly dead and people are working from home now, there's no need for the service.

Also the bus is every 20 minutes on a Saturday because there's a driver shortage and driver's are less likely to do overtime on a weekend hence the absolutely horrendous cancellations in Consett and Washington yesterday. The 306/308 are the least of the problems in Arriva Northumbria for loadings; there's the 52, 54, X9 and X14 to take that record, unless it's making a loss then there won't be changes. It makes no sense to put a bus upto 15 minutes to 'test loadings'. You'd put the bus upto every 20 minutes and if the demand is high then go upto every 15 minutes like Stagecoach has been slowly doing. Doing it the other way is illogical especially when you have a shortage of drivers.

Also the people of Marden don't want the 51A extended with a bus around the North East going to Newcastle via absolutely nowhere, I'm sure ian foster if he reads this can vouch for that. It's about a link to Tynemouth Morrisons from Tynemouth and Marden estate more than anything as they lost the link when the X8 (might have been X9) was withdrawn. It's nothing to do with Newcastle, most people from around there walk to Cullercoats Metro or Foxhunters so there's no benefit of running quicker buses (sadly).