(27 Jun 2022, 9:31 pm)User2613 wrote I assume it mostly a case of how do you get it from CLS to Newcastle without going through Low Fell If it continues to serve gateshead. The only alternative would be staying on the A1 until Lobley hill and then going up bensham bank which would probably take just as long and opens the door to delays on both the A1 around team valley and bensham bank at peak times.

I suppose one advantage of it missing out Low Fell would be that it can take the quickest route, the same way they can either go through Birtley or down the A1 to CLS. But, in reality, Low Fell is the quickest option 99% of the time as it's a more direct route