This is a rather large file from the Tyne and Wear Transport Integrated Authority. It includes details of major bus improvements planned across Tyne and Wear; one of which is the re-routing of Go North East's service 8 away from Chester Road to run along the A1231 express between Sunderland and Waterview Park, in addition to a new 15 minute service between Sunderland, Hylton Enterprise Park and Washington. There's also proposals for an all-day 30 minute frequency service between Washington, Team Valley and MetroCentre; and a new half-hourly service between Jarrow, Cobalt and Northumberland Park.
According to this link - https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/2...rt-schemes - funding has been approved for this scheme. I'll post the highlights below.
I apologise if this is old news to some - it's just the first time I've seen it!
What is Proposed -
The Introduction of three new strategic routes, and extension of an existing service to match new employment patterns and residential areas.
Strategic Route 1): Washington - Springwell Village - Wrekenton - Harlow Green - Team Valley - Bensham - Dunston - Metrocentre (extending to/from Blaydon and Winlaton at peak times)
Frequency: every 30 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes
Scheme details: This route provides a regular all day bus service between Washington, Team Valley and the Metrocentre. Washington is a major catchment area for Team Valley, but there is currently a very limited direct service. Providing better links to the Metrocentre also opens up connections to a wide range of other places in west Gateshead and north Durham.
Strategic Route 2): Jarrow - Percy Main - Silverlink - Cobalt - Northumberland Park
Frequency: every 30 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes (every 15 minutes Percy Main to Northumberland Park combined with an existing service)
Scheme details: This route addresses the issue of poor transport connectivity from South Tyneside and areas of high unemployment, to North Tyneside where the Business and Industrial parks associated with the A19 provide significant employment opportunities for the this demographic.
Strategic Route 3): Washington - Waterview Park - A1231 - Enterprise Park - Hylton Riverside Park - Sunderland
Frequency: every 15 minutes on Monday to Saturday daytimes
Scheme Details: to pump-prime a 15-minute service between Sunderland and Washington, serving the employment areas along the north bank of the river Wear. As this corridor currently does not have an express bus service.
Service Extension: Extension of the current Quaylink service to Walker Riverside, enabling direct public transport provision to the newly declared Enterprise Zone.
Frequency: Every 10 mins on Monday to Saturday daytimes
The full document can be seen here; PDF too large to upload sadly - http://www.twita.gov.uk/sites/default/fi...20Case.pdf
These Annexes discuss the bus improvements in much more detail (from P.31) -
http://www.twita.gov.uk/sites/default/fi...nnexes.pdf
Some of these improvements have already been recently implemented, such as the bus-link between Gosforth Business Park and Balliol/Quorum. I think the proposals for the 8 running over the Queen Alexandra Bridge and a new 15 minute service between Sunderland, Enterprise Park and Washington gives more credibility to the rumour on the Skyscraper City forums that when the new Wear Bridge opens - the Queen Alexandra Bridge will be closed to all traffic except buses and emergency vehicles.
edit - Just done some checking up - "Funding for a revised small project proposal from Tyne and Wear ITA, based on elements of their Large Project business case, has also been retained, and will be awarded pending a successful revised small project application."
https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/2...rt-schemes
It looks as though Tyne and Wear will only receive £5 million for a revised smaller project instead. Pity
