(20 Feb 2022, 11:03 am)L469 YVK wrote I get your first one, it would work something like this:

- Blyth: 00:00
- Newcastle: 01:06
- Newcastle: 01:14
- Blyth: 02:17 >> 23 min layover
- Blyth: 02:40
- Newcastle: 03:46
- Newcastle: 03:54
- Blyth: 04:57

The only thing I'd say to the above is that if Arriva wanted to reduce frequency and 'give way' to GNE becoming the 'lead' Coast Road operator (every 6-7 mins vs every 10 mins), they'd want to reduce costs as much as possible to compensate. But saying that, reliability with a longer layover in Blyth would go some way to improve reliability.

I'd even suggest Arriva & GNE go one step further if the CMA allowed (regardless of BSIP) and create more harmony with the 308 & 309 including ticketing.

Honestly I think the 311 will go eventually aswell tbh. Then there'll be 12 buses an hour along there every 5 minutes up until Station Road where it'll drop to every 10 minutes via the Coast Road Direct or 10 minutes through Battle Hill via High Farm.

If we're working in harmony with joined tickets etc and being serious about it I'd kinda like to see the 306 be diverted along Verne Road aswell, it would only take a couple of minutes (if that) and miss the lights at Billy Mill and the dangerous left to right turn and give those areas a more direct service in the process.

Nice cleaner timetables for everyone rather than the current 10/20, 6/5/7, 8/12 depending where you are. The extra 5 mins or so on the 309 route via High Farm and Cobalt would eventually tie up at the other end to offer a 10 minute service between Rake Lane and South Beach.

Btw the 5 mins at Whitley would be too tight I think, if it loses time then it's buggared until it gets back to Blyth if their working together the layover really needs to be there imo, not to mention stand clashes at Haymarket.