(22 Jul 2019, 12:33 am)JM03 wrote
Wasn't it not Nexus who told GNE they needed to introduce a direct link from Hebburn to Sunderland so they decided to change the 9 instead of making a new route? From a passenger point of view and a frequent user of the route, interest was lost when they sent the 9 to LLE and people went to the second best option which was ferry and 20. Was bound to happen when thy took away the direct link, would be welcomed back at Shields, most people just use the ferry nd 20 now as its more frequent which means less waiting time at SS than Jarrow
A bus service from North Shields to Sunderland existed since just after the opening of the Tyne Tunnel in November 1967 until recently, when service 9 was diverted to Hebburn. There was one exception to this, when for a short period a service 319 operated between Jarrow and Percy Main Metro.
When service 9 was diverted, GNE's excuse was that this was because of demand from Hebburn, despite Hebburn having a link to Sunderland via Pelaw on the Metro (the Metro link between North Shields and Sunderland can only be done through Newcastle, a ridiculously long journey for 2 locations which are only about 8 miles apart). So from having no direct bus at all to Sunderland, Hebburn suddenly got one, with a frequency of 3 times per hour on weekdays.
I ask why GNE could not have given both towns a link to Sunderland. The short journeys between Sunderland and Jarrow could have been extended to Hebburn, with the hourly frequency maintained to Shields. In the evening there are 2 buses per hour, so one could have gone to each of the towns. I think it was only for GNE's convenience that the ridiculous decision was taken to extend service 5 into Shields.
Going back to the original service between North Shields and Sunderland, that service started in Blyth and took in Whitley Bay and Tynemouth. In my opinion it was also for GNE's convenience that the direct link from North Shields and Blyth were discontinued.