(21 Aug 2022, 7:37 pm)Malarkey wrote I was having a think about our local metro routes and if in there current form and timetable are viable long term or could some improvements be made to have the region better connected across the entire network, so I have came up with the following suggestions:
The Green/Yellow Routes remain as they are however operating on a reduced frequency to better match current demand and to allow the introduction of new Pink/Blue/Red and Orange Routes which are combinations of the existing Green/Yellows with each service operating Every 30 Minutes Monday to Sunday Daytimes and Hourly in the Evening after 8pm.
Current Green Route - Airport - Callerton Parkway - Bank Foot - Kingston Park - Fawdon - Wansbeck Road - Regent Centre - South Gosforth - Illford Road - West Jesmond - Jesmond - Haymarket - Monument - Central Station - Gateshead - Gateshead Stadium - Felling - Heworth - Pelaw - Fellgate - Brockley Whins - East Boldon - Seaburn - Stadium Of Light - St.Peter's - Sunderland - Park Lane - University - Millfield - Pallion - South Hylton
Current Yellow Route - St.James - Manors - Byker - Chillingham Road - Walkergate - Wallsend - Hadrian Road - Howden - Percy Main - Meadow Well - North Shields - Tynemouth - Cullercoats - Whitley Bay - Monkseaton - West Monkseaton - Shiremoor - Northumberland Park - Palmersville - Benton - Four Lane Ends - Longbenton - South Gosforth - Illford Road - West Jesmond - Jesmond - Haymarket - Monument - Central Station - Gateshead - Gateshead Stadium - Felling - Heworth – Pelaw - Hebburn - Jarrow - Bede - Simonside - Tyne Dock - Chichester - South ShIelds
New Blue Route - Airport - Callerton Parkway - Bank Foot - Kingston Park - Fawdon - Wansbeck Road - Regent Centre - South Gosforth - Illford Road - West Jesmond - Jesmond - Haymarket - Monument - Central Station - Gateshead - Gateshead Stadium - Felling - Heworth - Pelaw - Hebburn - Jarrow - Bede - Simonside - Tyne Dock - Chichester - South ShIelds
New Pink Route - Airport - Callerton Parkway - Bank Foot - Kingston Park - Fawdon - Wansbeck Road - Regent Centre – Longbenton – Four Lane Ends – Benton – Palmersville – Northumberland Park – Shiremoor – West Monkseaton – Monkseaton – Whitley Bay – Cullercoats – Tynemouth – North Shields – Meadow Well – Percy Main – Howden – Hadrian Road – Wallsend – Walkergate – Chillingham Road – Byker – Manors – St.James
New Red Route - St.James - Manors - Byker - Chillingham Road - Walkergate - Wallsend - Hadrian Road - Howden - Percy Main - Meadow Well - North Shields - Tynemouth - Cullercoats - Whitley Bay - Monkseaton - West Monkseaton - Shiremoor - Northumberland Park - Palmersville - Benton - Four Lane Ends - Longbenton - South Gosforth - Illford Road - West Jesmond - Jesmond - Haymarket - Monument - Central Station - Gateshead - Gateshead Stadium - Felling - Heworth - Pelaw - Hebburn - Jarrow - Bede - Simonside - Tyne Dock - Chichester - South ShIelds
New Orange Route - St.James - Manors - Byker - Chillingham Road - Walkergate - Wallsend - Hadrian Road - Howden - Percy Main - Meadow Well - North Shields - Tynemouth - Cullercoats - Whitley Bay - Monkseaton - West Monkseaton - Shiremoor - Northumberland Park - Palmersville - Benton - Four Lane Ends - Longbenton - South Gosforth - Illford Road - West Jesmond - Jesmond - Haymarket - Monument - Central Station - Gateshead - Gateshead Stadium - Felling - Heworth – Pelaw - Fellgate - Brockley Whins - East Boldon - Seaburn - Stadium Of Light - St.Peter's - Sunderland - Park Lane - University - Millfield - Pallion - South Hylton
It's too complicated that imo. This would be better imo:
St James - Pelaw, Every 10 Minutes
Monkseaton - South Shields, Every 10 Minutes
Regent Centre - Pelaw / Park Lane (Peaks), Every 20 Minutes
Airport - South Hylton, Every 20 Minutes
Means you'd have the following frequencies
Airport - Regent Centre, 3 TPH
Regent Centre - South Gosforth, 6 TPH
South Gosforth - Monkseaton, 12 TPH
Monkseaton - St James, 6 TPH
South Gosforth - Pelaw, 18 TPH
Pelaw - South Shields, 6 TPH
Pelaw - Park Lane, 3 TPH (Day) / 6 TPH (Peak)
Park Lane - South Hylton, 3 TPH
Northern Trains, Newcastle - Middlesbrough, 2 TPH
It means the core sections have a frequent service during the day and the not so busy areas (South Hylton / Airport) have the service they really need. Both ends of the route are dead most the time.