(15 Jul 2023, 7:50 am)L469 YVK wrote But people around Wiltshire Drive don't use the 51 as it's too infrequent. They either walk to Station Road and use the 307, 309 or Coast Road / Station Road for them all, or use alternative means of transport. Some people ex Newcastle get off the main services just after the Wills train bridge too.
309 wouldn't need to go via Wiltshire Drive for starters and it's frequent enough to keep a service on Station Road, allowing the 307 to.
To clear your last bit up about the 22, this is what I'd suggest for all the services concerned........
- 22 - Split after Churchill Street, every 20 mins to Silverlink & Cobalt or every 20 minutes to Hadrian Park.
- 307 - Omits Hadrian Park and serves Wiltshire Drive instead.
- 309 - Extra minute between High Farm and Coast Road / Station Road, allowing a 13/7 split with the 307 between Middle Engine Lane and High Farm. 1 minute also removed between New York and NT Hospital ex Newcastle.
- 306/308 - Both get 1 extra minute between Willington Square and Coast Road / Station Road.
- 351 - Omits Wiltshire Drive and after Coast Road / Station Road, operates non-stop to the Civic Centre, St Mary's and Haymarket. Allows service to run standalone with a PVR of 2x if needed.
Of course, GNE tried a half hourly 307 to Newcastle via Wiltshire Drive some years ago (with minibuses) and it was a complete flop. Most Wiltshire Drive passengers walk from Station Road or the Coast Rd.
Removing 307 from Hadrian Park would mean Hadrian Park to Newcastle passengers being dragged through Wallsend and Byker on the 22, a much longer journey.