(22 Oct 2022, 12:04 pm)L469 YVK wrote Before COVID, I would've 100% agreed with an 'X' variant of the 308.
If passenger numbers stabilise and driver numbers recovered, could do this (depending on Blyth's capacity) and if the 43/44/45 returned to normal frequency, would also solve the dead-mileage issue to Dinnington (43/44/45 too unreliable to interwork on a 15 min frequency).............
- 306 & 308 - both reduced to every 20 minutes and 306 withdrawn from Battle Hill. 308 during the day runs via Marden Estate rather than Hillheads. PVR 14x and 306 curtailed in Tynemouth.
- X38 - Same as 308 now between Blyth and Billy Mill. Then only calling at Norham Road and Willington Square before non-stop to Newcastle Civic Centre, St Mary's and Haymarket. Every 30 mins and a PVR of 10x interworking with 44/45.
Diverting the 308 via Marden would open up new links, whilst further distinguishing the 'express' element of the X38
If you want an 'express' service you'd be better doing something like this imo:
306/308: Haymarket - St Mary's Place - Civic Centre - [Non Stop] - Sandyford - [Non Stop] - Cradlewell - Corner House - [Non Stop] - Kings Road North / Selby Gardens - Coast Road - ...
309/310/311: Haymarket - [All Stops] - Station Road - Mullen Road - Battle Hill - ...
It means that they all do they're respective routes so you'll have a quicker clean 7.5 minute service with the 306/308 and a clean 6 minute service with the 309/310/311 on the common sections with them both doing unique routes give or take rather than the case now where the 309 does Selby Gardens and the 306 does Battle Hill and the uneven service that causes with a slightly quicker service for the 306/308 since they don't have the slog of going up and down the two slip roads.
The 306 and 309 swap is a win for both aswell as it means GNE get Battle Hill but Arriva get Selby Gardens / Kings Road North so neither lose out.