(12 Sep 2016, 9:08 pm)Adrian wrote I'm unsure if that'd work. We previously had the 183, which was arguably quicker than the route you've described to the Metrocentre, and that was withdrawn due to low usage.I think part of the problem with the 183, was that it was perceived to be a long route. I don't think it's frequency helped either. Nor that it went in the wrong direction out of the Galleries.
Harlow Green/Allerdene is an interesting one. Parts of it are, I'd say, in reasonable walking distance of the Loop. That will get you to/from Team Valley, and you've also got the Coaster and Angel connections too. Parts of it are perhaps not, but a more likely solution would be to adjust the Loop route.
Looking at reasonable routes on a map, I really don't think there is one that will work from Washington, which is probably why it doesn't exist. Your best bet would probably be routing the Red Arrows away from Old Durham Road, but that would not go down well with existing customers, due to increased journey times.
Initially, it didnt take much longer than a 194, Metro and X66 did from the Galleries (which depending on connections, was about the same duration as the express services between the Galleries and Gateshead at the time). Obviously the revisions and tweaks it had over the years added to its duration slightly.
From being an express between the Galleries and Vigo Bridge (A182/A195), it then ended up going via Lambton/Ayton. At one point I think it went via Wear and Harraton/Rickleton.
I think the same problem emerged in Birtley.
Passengers in Birtley had a frequent service to Gateshead and could easily change buses there. 45 mins roughly from Birtley - Metrocentre was similar to getting a bus along the Durham Road and then the X66.
You could argue the same perception applies between the Galleries and Tyneside now. The majority seem to prefer the X1, despite a 4 and Metro being a similar journey time.