Not sure the issue is the bus type mind. There's Streetlites on the 20 and 60 with GNE and the 1, X1 and X4 with Arriva which are actually challenging routes. Is there actually any section of the 1 that's above 30mph bar Central to Gateshead Interchange.
The route is just too long, one issue - a set of roadworks or whatever and the whole route is off whack and there's no way of sorting it. Stuff like Stagecoach's 1 can get away with it as they can just drop a board and run empty to catch up and no-one will notice because of the frequency. Do that on the GNE 1 and you've got big problems.
Also anyone using the bus to go to the Metro Centre from any point North of Gateshead has way too much time, it's an complete illogical route. It needs split up again imo. There's no benefits from a passenger point of view of it being joined up.
RE: Go North East March 2023 changes