(01 Oct 2020, 5:42 pm)Storx wrote Then there's GNE; 5 no longer through the tunnel,309 cut to 20 minutes, 310 cut to 20 minutes, 58 scrapped (no link to Gateshead), 1 cut to 20 minutes, 42 abandoned East of Wallsend, 40/41 butchered in half. 11/19/40/41/42 served by Gateshead Taxis in the evening. Improvements 19 evening 3 runs from Cobalt.

And no surprise given the fact that they had the opportunity to streamline the 3x services at the time (57/309/310) and take out the one that was carrying the most fresh air. 

Arriva will likely follow suit with the 306 & 308 when social distancing rules allow meaning a 20 min service on both and the 306 removed from Battle Hill. Gone are the glory days of water leaks in the Cityzens (not the buses of course)! If the Blyth to Rake Lane corridor was that profitable, then why would GNE (despite running at the time minutes ahead of the 308) jeopardise their position to reduce the 309's frequency?