(12 May 2023, 8:42 pm)L469 YVK wrote Pretty robust set of suggestions here, only things I'd consider.......
51 (Red) - Every 30 Minutes, No Changes54 (Orange) - Every Hour, Partial replacement of 335/54.
* Keep W2 as is
* 51 hourly to A191 New York Road from Whitley Bay, then via B1322 following existing 54 route and forming a combined frequency up to every 30 minutes with the new 54 on common sections
* 38 extended half-hourly from Freeman Hospital to Northumberland Park via Haddricks Mill, Benton Park Road, Whitley Road, East Benton Rise, Benton ASDA, Holystone, Holystone Park and West Allotment
* 22 split Cobalt & Silverlink / Hadrian Park every 20 minutes each
* 307 re-routed via Wiltshire Drive and omits Hadrian Park
53 (Light Purple) - Every Hour, Merged with 335 at Eastern Side
* Issue with this is lack of service from Billy Mill Lane and parts of Lynn Road to North Shields. A few sheltered accommodation blocks around those areas plus the 53, 442, 56, 356 have always been a hit with the 'twirlies' on this stretch.
* One option would be extension of both 57/57A to North Shields via evening route. - Most sensible
* Other option would be dropping the 317 to hourly and introducing a sister hourly 318 service which runs instead via Billy Mill Lane, Lynn Road, Queen Alexandra Road and then re-joining the 317 route at Hawkeys Lane. This however would significantly reduce service around Preston Grange and the 317 is a pretty stable route which is doing good, so would be better leaving alone.
Not too sure about the 51 idea as it would make it really really long and it's kinda why I was put off, I was thinking about it at first ngl but then thought this is going to be one of these services that serves everywhere but not really anywhere useful.
The 38 extension maybe all the way through to Whitley Bay instead wouldn't be the worst idea though tbf, barely any time difference.
Fair points with the 53 mind, one idea possibly would be the switch everything around and split the 317 into two going the opposite way so you'd end up with something like this:
But like you said the 317 isn't doing too bad so not sure I'd want to meddle with it. It would open more links from Malvern Road West though and remove the horse shoe.