(25 Feb 2020, 8:55 am)Ds1197 wrote I think stagecoach killed the link between Wallsend and Cobalt by offering a more frequent and faster service with the 22

To be fair, any of the big 3 operators could have created that link, that route and that frequency. 
They didn't (for whatever reason) and if the 22 is the reason (partly or otherwise) for the changes, then they've only got themselves to blame for missing the commercial opportunity and seeing their passengers inconvenienced. 

Cuts, reductions, route consolidation and smaller fleets hasn't worked for GNE passengers in the past and I can't see it working for them in the future.