(19 Aug 2020, 3:31 pm)L469 YVK wrote Don't think this is intentional. GoNE need to run the 309 & 310 at the given times for the following reasons:

• Cobalt shift patterns towards Newcastle / Blyth - if run any earlier then workers would be left stranded at Cobalt. Blyth passengers will have longer wait but demand less than towards Newcastle.
  
• 310 additionally serving Hadrian Park - only other option would be a longer layover in North Shields and extra journeys on the 309 would also need to be run to allow increased running time & layover later into the evening if not interworked with service 310.
  

If GNE really wanted to spoil the party for Arriva, they would've re-timed the 309 to run before the 308.

Push them both back 20 minutes, at the end of the day even known demand is down loads the evening service on the Coast Road is extremely poor. You have to remember it used to be 8 buses* along here an hour which is pretty much turn up and go. Now it might aswell be 2 buses an hour. For someone not using a bus in awhile its a big change and one which seriously might make you consider using the route your all taking.

It's all good being good for Cobalt, but it's a bit pointless when it's empty from Newcastle -> Cobalt as everyone is using the 306/308 as it's cheaper, quicker and runs later and runs in front of the 309 by 8 mins. It's been like this all through lockdown on Saturdays and Sundays aswell with them following each other and the 309 being empty.

Arriva is at blame as much here though as they could easily flip them around the other way especially when their accepting each other tickets and aren't running their normal timetables anyway. The only loser here is us, the customer.

* 57(2), 306(2), 308(2), 309(1), 310(1)