(01 Oct 2020, 7:13 pm)L469 YVK wrote 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?

Possibly people are choosing the 308 as they get more value from an Arriva day ticket with more places to go possibly with a change.

From Seaton Sluice, you've got direct buses to Blyth, Cramlington (infrequent but it's there), Delaval, Newcastle (x2), Whitley, Silverlink, Quorum. Then with a change you've got Cramlington (very frequent), Ashington, Morpeth, Bedlington, North Shields, Tynemouth, Killingworth, Backworth.

GNE you've got Blyth, Whitley, Cobalt, Newcastle direct with a change Wallsend, Tynemouth and Shields and that's about it in the local area anyway.

But on that point not too sure, maybe Arriva putting their services before profits and are happy with a break even or a small profit with other routes topping up the money. Something GNE can't really do in North Tyneside as the rest of their routes there are quite weak bar the 1 and the profits from that probably are lost on the weak western end to the Metro Centre. It's the same with the 1 and 2 at Blyth, really surprised there still every 20 minutes with minibuses rather than every 30 with full size singles - they must have there reasoning behind it tbh. I genuinely don't see Arriva dropping the frequency though as they don't really cut stuff everything in Northumbria has been pretty stable for 10 year or so now.