(04 Mar 2022, 4:10 pm)Omega54 wrote Its a real shame GNE didn't win 317/342/46E.

I disagree.

GNE having the 317 benefits no-one it runs through Stagecoach areas and interworks with the 11/12 between North Shields and Royal Quays giving a bus every 15 minutes and Howdon works with the 22 to give passengers more destinations with their tickets. The North Shields to Whitley Bay section is a bit out of area for Stagecoach but GNE is no better, it's a dominant Arriva area now.

The 46 is a commercial route ran by Arriva additionally serving Hollywood Avenue, it's not GNE's area at all and works with the 43/44/45 services.

The 342 on paper would be best ran by Arriva but it doesn't really matter. GNE wouldn't be entitled to it though just because they used to run it. I'm glad Nexus have chosen to work with an already existing route to benefit passengers losing the Killingworth link though (52) than subsidising a second route and then have a long route benefiting more customers.

GNE are by far the worst of the big 3 North of the Tyne and as much as Arriva is hated on here because they don't paint buses pink. I'm not sure there'd be many passengers crying if they disappeared overnight with constant cuts, downgrades and reducing of services. The 309 being the latest now having a last bus at 8pm to Blyth and the 1 being hourly which is useless. Good thing the Metro/22 and 308 run in parallel for most of the route to give those people an actual useful service. Obviously it's Covid's fault though for everything.