(17 Jun 2019, 12:12 pm)markydh wrote

Do I have a better suggestion? Yes, it’s fine as it is. Your minibus suggestion is a solution looking for a problem that would create problems. The number 1 has deckers (and had them even when the rest of Newcastle went single around when the 22 got 55 reg MANs in 2005) precisely because of the City Centre to Coach Lane numbers. You’d need minibuses operating every 2-3 minutes to replace the capacity. That’s just not realistic.

I also said that the Cobalt extension was to give Heaton and High Heaton a Cobalt link. You propose scrapping it and replacing it with a Coast Road route which bypasses both of these. It’s nonsensical.

I'd also like to add to Markydh's comments, that Northumbria University have an established agreement with Stagecoach which entitles free transport for students at five designated stops along the eastern side of the route - Civic Centre, Sandyford Road-Portland Terrace, Portland Road-Warwick Street, Warwick Street-City Stadium and the corner of Simonside Terrace-Chillingham Road. The University pay Stagecoach a substantial amount of money for the privilege, as Stagecoach are losing out to UniRider sales with this. 

I agree too that mini-buses isn't a goer, after all, university lectures, seminars etc finish at specific times, the 1 doesn't see a steady stream of passengers - more like student stampede. 

(15 Jun 2019, 9:11 pm)Malarkey wrote

The journey was alright until we reached Heaton Estate where navigation of the street became very challenging for the driver due to badly parked cars across several streets, this resulted in the driver having to stop and reverse on more than one occasion.

This made me question whether a double/full sized single decker is a suitable vehicle of choice on this section of the route, would of been no bother if the driver was driving a minibus. These black spots on this section must have a big impact on reliability, I'll be honest I have never seen an area so highly populated by cars.

I personally think Stagecoach need to review this section of the 1 before a major accident happens, best option would be to split the 1 in half at City Centre and again split the City Centre to Cobalt section into two routes given the current number 1 a more easy to navigate route, with the Heaton estate being served by a highly frequent minibus service between the City Centre and Coach Lane Campus.

Parked cars have never really been a huge problem for a 'major disaster', no different to anywhere else. Although, recently parking has been little bit relaxed as of late - but why should Stagecoach alter a route because of people who cannot park? The council is well aware and are introducing new enforcement measures around Heaton on the back of feedback from both residents and Stagecoach. Traffic warden patrols have also been stepped up too, there is a satisfying yellow glow of tickets here and there.

Apart from the corner of Whitefield Terrace-Sackville Terrace and Cardigan Terrace-Second Avenue, the route is relatively fine. Whitefield Terrace-Sackville Terrace in can be iffy in the event of two buses meeting on the junction resulting in a little bit of shuffling, apart from that there are passing places marked out for traffic, as it is a well established bus route after all - so I'd be interesting to know where navigation became very challenging - perhaps one for myself to prod the council on if it isn't one of knowledge.

Also as Mark has said the Cobalt extension was purely to give Heaton and High Heaton a Cobalt link - anyone being picked up in between is a bonus. It loosely does okay at peaks I gather... but agree I'm sure it runs to Cobalt a little later than it should really. However, if the extension was such a bad performer it would of been pulled by now, probably at the same time as the Night Buses.