I do think they're missing a trick by having two express services to Newcastle and missing the Metrocentre out.
Similarly, with the western and northern suburbs of Newcastle. Stagecoach have a limited offering, but there could be scope to develop those areas beyond what Stagecoach offer.
The Village/Estate to Town/City centre services are dying off, with 'through' services complementing the core routes seemingly - pretty much what Stagecoach/Busways have offered since 86.
If you think of GNE - Kibblesworth doesn't have a dedicated bus now to Newcastle now. Neither do Barley Mow or Allerdene.
The villages in Washington have services which serve them, rather than terminate in them.
Similarly, the estates in South Tyneside have routes that go through them or bypass the edges.
Edit - Completely forgot about the poor little village (sorry eezypeazy) of Fencehouses too.
For years the 178 served the streets, estates and houses that the taxpayer funded TB20 works its way through these days, before plodding on to Houghton
