(16 Jul 2023, 4:05 pm)mb134 wrote I think it's one of a few routes that, if managed properly, has a decent chunk of potential growth in it. There are also loads of potential different passenger flows, it isn't just about getting from starting point to terminus with nothing along the way, it's set up for some to do A to C, B to D, A to D etc.
It would just about be doable, but they'd both be standalone with PVRs of 3, as follows:
57:
Ashington 09:02
Whitley Bay: 10:10
Tynemouth: 10:24
Tynemouth: 10:31
Whitley Bay: 10:45
Ashington: 11:53
57A:
Ashington: 09:32
Whitley Bay: 10:45
Tynemouth: 10:59
Tynemouth: 11:01
Whitley Bay: 11:15
Ashington: 12:28
That's using current 306 timings between Whitley Bay and Tynemouth. I'm not too sure how popular it would be on the Whitley Bay to Tynemouth section outside of peak summer time though, and it might get a tad confusing with the 57A terminating at North Shields on evenings/Sundays too?
Resources wise, it would also be less efficient as it would require a driver changeover on every round trip, whereas with the suggestion yesterday you could do a full 2 trip cycle (57 to Whitley Bay/57A to Ashington/57A to Whitley Bay/57 to Ashington) and still have 30 mins of driving time to play with. The Tynemouth extension would take 2 trips to near enough 6 hours.
Aye must admit I did think about the resource issue and thought it might be an issue and it can't really interwork with anything as there's nothing to interwork with. Suppose it won't be any more quiet than the current 306 though and would reduce the resources along there and give Monkseaton connections to Preston Grange Morrisons, whether they want it who knows.
I suppose the evening services could just be extended to Tynemouth though instead, why it even still goes to North Shields is a mystery to me when Nexus has been cutting routes, left, right and centre. It arguably would be better heading North to Bedlington or even offer a 30 minute service between Seaton Delaval and Whitley Bay, there's enough time to do it (self interests there mind).