(17 Oct 2021, 6:51 pm)Malarkey wrote They should extend the likes of the 57/58/67/69 from Heworth & Wardley to provide links across Gateshead to Amazon. 

You could even divert the odd 56 along Downhill Lane/Follingsby Lane to Follingby Park to provide links in the peaks back to Sunderland.

Furthermore with the withdrawal of the SNS and the 56 no longer being on diversion via Cherry Blossom Way/A1231 their is no service through the business park area again where Amazon are present alongside Nissan and Vantec, so why not extend the 82 from Waterview Park to Follingsby Park via Cherry Blossom Way and Downhill Lane/Follingsby Lane to Follingsby Park providing a link through multiple core business areas back to Washington. You could even divert the 50 via Cherry Blossom Way/A1231 and Peel Retail Park to Concord in order to provide some improved links from across the entire route.

My initial thoughts were to see connections from places other than Heworth or Washington. Something like the X24 or X34 like Storx suggested.

Finding out where these passengers are coming from and obtaining that data would be ideal.
I'm sure sticking a GNE bod on board a few of the runs would be a quick, cheap and cost effective way of finding out where the demand is coming from.
Assuming that the current set up of forcing everyone to go to Heworth and on to the 4, from places like Hebburn or Jarrow, will continue to work is quite short sighted imo.
They need to step it up and offer alternatives before the cold weather kicks in, before people start to lift share or to be able sort out driving lessons. These 'associates' will get to know each other and inevitably, they will start to develop working relationships.
They've got a captive audience at the mo, but need to maintain or grow it. Otherwise you end up with a 93/94 situation and the inevitable delays with the buses stuck in commuter traffic.