(09 Dec 2022, 5:26 pm)Storx wrote If there's joint ticketing then this would be better imo:

306 - Pulled out of Battle Hill
308 - No Changes
309 - 311 Route to Hadrian Park, 309 to Cobalt (Every 15 Minutes), Extended to Blyth (Every 30 Minutes)
310 - Upped to Every 15 Minutes

306/308 - Combined every 7.5 Minutes between Newcastle and Billy Mill
309/310 - Combined every 7.5 Minutes between Newcastle and Battle Hill

There's absolutely no need for a 10 minute service between Blyth / Whitley Bay and Newcastle plus it wouldn't work anyway as it would make the 306/308 run at the same time. Why should Arriva drop down to 6 BPH while GNE still has 9 BPH. I wouldn't be too keen either.

Surely the 310 would go via Hadrian Park with the 311 withdrawn, and the 306/308 run every 20 minutes, as they do on Saturdays. 
That way there could be an even 5-minute headway Haymarket to Station Road and vice-versa

306 x 20 min
308 x 20 min
309 x 20 min
310 x 20 min (via Hadrian Park)

There are currently 7 buses per hour Blyth to Whitley Bay on Mon-Fri, so reducing to 6 is still a saving (pre covid there were 8 per hour, 4 x 308 and 4 x 309).

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(09 Dec 2022, 6:19 pm)Michael wrote Busways have now registered the 685 for its full operation.


PB0002404/401
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 685HN (685) Newcastle Eldon Square Hexham Bus Station

PB0002404/402
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 685BH (685) Hexham Bus Station Brampton Market Place

PB0002404/403
New BUSWAYS TRAVEL SERVICES LTD 685 (685) Brampton Market Place Carlisle Bus Station

Have Busways got enough drivers to take on the extra work?