(04 Mar 2022, 8:37 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote Good news personally i think if you are near or passing a Metro Station or Bus station a loop past the bus station should be utilised
I also think any secured services should go via a interchange or hub
Looking at Wallsend
Yes the high Street the bus stops all around but often the buses don't go to the bus station which connects to the Metro - we assume most people can walk or feel safe walking distances
Creating an easy connection hub is what is needed
I may be cynical but personally I think the new 317 service should go via Jarrow Bus Station
Crazy thought but from North Shields head through the tunnel to Jarrow Bus Station then to Wallsend Bus Station
And Vice Verser
The connection from Jarrow to Wallsend would be the key and if it is Nexus Secured there is no commercial liability
I'm not sure how plausible it would be timetabling wise but if you wanted to do that I'd split the service 3 ways and maybe use Percy Main Metro as a hub.
So you'd have 3 services with them all interworking at Percy Main, pick whatever numbers.
R1 - Whitley Bay to South Shields hourly
R2 - Whitley Bay to Wallsend hourly.
R3 - Wallsend to South Shields hourly.
If you could timetable it right you'd end up not really losing anything but creating new links in the process with:
R1/R2 - 30 minute service between Whitley Bay and Percy Main
R2/R3 - 30 minute service between Wallsend and Percy Main
R1/R3 - 30 minute service between Percy Main and Jarrow
In the process you've linked Wallsend and South Shields/Jarrow with a service at the same time and also gave a hourly service from Whitley Bay across the Tyne direct.