I've driven back from Newcastle during Friday and Saturday nights, the Spine Road is heaving with taxis until around 3am...
Definitely a case for some after midnight departures as that's when those in Newcastle are prepared to leave, not 20 mins after the traditional departure. GNE may have seen this trend on the N21 and 56?
I was thinking of separate night bus routes that merge daytime ones together, so starting from Central Station, pick up at the Gate, and again at Barras Bridge before running X11 route up to Shankhouse, running to Bedlington then doing the X22 through to Ashington then X21 route to the Elephant. Perhaps continue to drop people off until North Seaton roundabout before running dead back to Newcastle to do it again...
I believe the local authorities want the 308 to run all night in the future too.
RE: Arriva North East: Upcoming Service Changes