(31 Jan 2023, 3:01 pm)ifm001 wrote Re X66. I'm going to regret saying this.
Why not withdraw it altogether and replace with extension to services that exist already that terminate either Gateshead or Meteocentre.
Ie extend 97 from Metrocentre back to Gateshead via X66 route
Or 51/52 from Gateshead to Metrocentre via X66 route.
Alternatively something with the Newcastle bound buses, truncate some of them at Gateshead but send to Metrocentre instead. Similar to what Arriva did a few years ago with X1/X2/X12 or whatever number it was at the time, when they sent it to Metrocentre on a Sunday.
Imagine timekeeping would be an issue with that.
Personally I always think it should be bolted onto the Quaylink services across the river and give direct Metrocentre to Quayside services instead of the 53/54 maybe even extended through to the Great Park instead of the Q3. It would also give a direct link from Gateshead to Northumbria University without the walks at both end with the other half of the Q3 actually doing a loop around Newcastle again rather than the botch currently.
Be handy to have a bus with connects all the hubs together (Metrocentre / Eldon Square and Haymarket / Gateshead)