(17 May 2021, 11:29 pm)Storx wrote I know it's never going to happen but if Covid did impact bus services badly.Don't forget though. GNE pulled out of South Shields back in 2005 and crucified their network of routes as a result leaving just a handful of services.
I'd love to see GNE and Stagecoach work together and see a depot swap with Percy Main going to Stagecoach and South Shields going to GNE with the Q3 going to Stagecoach and the X34 and Western side of the 1 in return going to GNE. E's unsure who'd be better having it - not sure which end is busier.
There's way too much competition in North Tyneside and South Tyneside and merging some corridors would massively help matters especially with the Wallsend / Howdon services being under GNE, Gosforth being all Stagecoach / Arriva and the 42/42A not sticking out like a sore thumb.
Similar in South Shields it would help being able to merge Jarrow services with their respective South Shields routes and bridge connections which don't exist atm as there's 2 operators plus the Metro fighting for a small pool of passengers. You'd be much better with only GNE and letting them built a network with ASDA Boldon and Jarrow acting as hubs with South Shields.
The last thing we need is more express services to Cramlington and to the coast though by Stagecoach.
Stagecoach did operate Newcastle to Cramlington. Think it was the X43 if I remember correctly.