(24 Jul 2021, 6:55 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote Yesterday I had a bit of a interesting idea, To build bus stops in the grounds of both Northbound & Southbound Washington Services called the Washington MotoHub. It could be used as a sort bus parkway for washington or an interchange to other areas.

(24 Jul 2021, 7:18 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Washington Services has only one service going anywhere near it (25, Portobello) and the only access to the services area is through a hole in the fence on the Birtley side. Can't remember how accessible it is from the Washington side however no buses currently serve the road leading up to Ceowther Industrial Estate (one works service might, but I'd have to check). 

Those limitations aside, Washington Sevices is quite difficult for a bus to serve; has limited facilities; and would only interchangeable with one mode of transport (the bus). Why anyone would want to change from a bus to another bus on a petrol station forecourt with extortionate prices for both petrol and groceries is beyond me.

(24 Jul 2021, 7:29 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote I was thinking more services that use the A1(M) i.e. GNE X21. You could create a network of services that would connect here quite easily. You could build paths from the shelters to the roads you mentioned. Correct me if i'm wrong but don't some coaches already do this.

(24 Jul 2021, 7:18 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Washington Services has only one service going anywhere near it (25, Portobello) and the only access to the services area is through a hole in the fence on the Birtley side. Can't remember how accessible it is from the Washington side however no buses currently serve the road leading up to Crowther Industrial Estate (one works service might, but I'd have to check). 

Those limitations aside, Washington Sevices is quite difficult for a bus to serve; has limited facilities; and would only interchangeable with one mode of transport (the bus). Why anyone would want to change from a bus to another bus on a petrol station forecourt with extortionate prices for both petrol and groceries is beyond me.

(24 Jul 2021, 7:56 pm)Storx wrote Personally don't see the point in this. If you wanted something like this you'd be better building a fit for purpose site near Eighton Lodge / The Angel with a large P&R site. It'd be as cheap as retrofitting lifts in a pretty grim bridge which is an issue in itself. You'd also have the bonus of 21, 23, 28, X12, X21 and X22 already passing it.

Not that I'd expect anyone to use it's more for the P&R element more than anything.

(24 Jul 2021, 7:29 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote I was thinking more services that use the A1(M) i.e. GNE X21. You could create a network of services that would connect here quite easily. You could build paths from the shelters to the roads you mentioned. Correct me if i'm wrong but don't some coaches already do this.

(24 Jul 2021, 10:05 pm)Ambassador wrote once the Highways agency move in and out after the Birtley to Team Valley works are complete  in 4 years time the long awaited Angel P&R at EightonLodge will open.

It’ll be the field to the left of the current slip road onto the A1 southbound, fully funded by Gateshead Council

(25 Jul 2021, 9:51 am)Storx wrote Didn't realise they finally had plans to do knew it's been in the pipeline for years with a site at Follingsby aswell but haven't heard anything for awhile.

(25 Jul 2021, 4:55 pm)MurdnunoC wrote If it was up to me, I would have went with Follingsby over Eighton Lodge.

The A194(M) gives direct access to the A1 from the South (albeit not from the North unless coming off at the A1231 or going around Washington on the A195); it is accessible from the A19 and potentially has a rail or Metro link if the Leamside Line ever comes back into use. It is also close enough to be used as a Park and Ride for special occasions like the Sunderland Air Show; concerts at the Stadium of Light or The Sage; or sporting events at Gateshead International Stadium, to give just a few examples.

(25 Jul 2021, 6:33 pm)Storx wrote See honestly I thought Follingsby is a bit of weird one as there's no bus service near there to Newcastle so your going to have buses pretty much running parallel to the Metro and it's more buses going into Newcastle etc which if it becomes unpopular is counter productive.

Personally I think they'd be better off just building a decent multi storey at Heworth and utilising the Metro from there which is every 6 minutes (off peak), every 3 mins (peak). Then if they built the Gateshead Quays train station which is rumoured they could have a shuttle train from Newcastle to Heworth and use that multistorey for events etc and could easily use it for the GNR (Metro to South Shields / Newcastle) and the Airshow aswell (Metro to Seaburn).

Least at Eighton Lodge you already have the 21 running through which if needed could easily be made more frequent with some buses terminating at the P&R, maybe more X21 buses either.

(25 Jul 2021, 7:04 pm)MurdnunoC wrote But why consider buses as the only feasible option for a Park and Ride anyway? Rail and Metro, reliability permitting, offer a faster route into Newcastle and don't suffer from delays brought about by traffic (cars won't just disappear). I mean, I take your point about buses potentially running parallel but it doesn't have to be that way with an holistic planning approach to public transport. Heworth, in my opinion, gets a bit too congested as it is more urban than Follingsby. However, a multi-storey car park could be a step in the right direction if the space is there to construct it.

(25 Jul 2021, 7:04 pm)MurdnunoC wrote But why consider buses as the only feasible option for a Park and Ride anyway? Rail and Metro, reliability permitting, offer a faster route into Newcastle and don't suffer from delays brought about by traffic (cars won't just disappear). I mean, I take your point about buses potentially running parallel but it doesn't have to be that way with an holistic planning approach to public transport. Heworth, in my opinion, gets a bit too congested as it is more urban than Follingsby. However, a multi-storey car park could be a step in the right direction if the space is there to construct it.

(25 Jul 2021, 7:18 pm)54APhotography wrote Follingsby would be a very good park and ride for the metro, as would a justifiable terminus for Durham being the A690 park and ride.

Nexus need to talk to GBR now, and specify multi voltage for their new trains, or any ideas of congestion busting will be pie in the sky.