Arriva must be commercially tactical here and I believe the Blyth and Newcastle link may operate at a loss for the next few years for a very specific reason
CAMBOIS
Think about it Cambis is getting a huge Giga Factory being built its like a Nissan Factory or Amazon factory on a large scale employing thousands- do you think Arriva will want to maintain services and cash in on increased workers and passengers?
Best example I can give is look at Amazon at Follingsby Park
Dan and the Team at GNE have worked endlessly to create additional services including short routes to Washington and Heworth to connect with other services creating a discreet shuttle service bus incorporating a normal bus service
This Giga Plant in Cambois near Blyth is absolutely huge massive and you think Arriva don't want to cash in on this?
Remove a service its open for competition to step in keep it twig it and possibly run it at a loss for a few years (with long term revenue potential) is in the longer term financially viable
Another issue regarding Battlehill is residents prefer to use 306 and GNE 309 as its "quicker"
On paper you are saving 3mins by going direct along the coast Road towards Newcastle. For 3 minutes you are missing conncections to a bingo approx 8 bus stops including outside a shopping centre (Lidl shops etc )
To save 3 minutes as someone said I think it's about 5 personally in return for picking say 10 passengers heading towards Newcastle so say £2 a head and creating competition with GNE services
Think about it keep the service running through Battlehill because if you don't you give monopoly away of an area and we have seen what happens when services have a monopoly they bite little by little making a 10 min service to a 12 min service to a 15min service to a 20 min service then a 30min service
Think about it keeping competition on service routes keeps bus routes
Think about it
RE: Arriva North East: Upcoming Service Changes