(21 Aug 2023, 9:06 pm)L469 YVK wrote I totally get what you mean about covering the Metro routes. But already (not via Billy Mill though), there is a late service from Newcastle to Whitley Bay (309) at 23:45. That and the 21 being the last services to depart Haymarket & Eldon Square.

Now when the N58 was tried a few years back, it was unattractive due to no commonality with Arriva who at the time were the dominant Coast Road operator. Now with joint ticketing, promotion and marketing......who knows. GNE have the perfect feeder service and vehicle to pick up the first ex Newcastle journey.

If the service ran as N308 rather than N38, punters would know straightaway that it's effectively a 308. Something down the lines off.........

"Staying out even later? Get home with 'N'308. Your same great service 308 operating even later between Newcastle and Whitley Bay Seafront, serving the heart of Newcastle City Centre and additionally serving High Farm & Battle Hill Drive."

See personally, I'd just ignore the day time network and build a unique night service, similar to what London does taking in reflection the Metro isn't running.

I'd try and build something like the below instead:


With the green, purple and red lines all being hourly and the orange and pink lines being every 30 minutes with the the purple line splitting at Four Lane Ends (62/63) and the orange line being Lemington to Wallsend Only and Chapel House to Whitley Bay.

With proper marketing and Metro ticketing integration it would cover pretty much everywhere North of the Tyne. The 39/40 are every 15 minutes until 23:30pm then just die, it's definitely a corridor which has potential similar going through Heaton and Jesmond with the students. Jesmond an area which would be unsuccessful during the day but is a different ball game at night.

It would all need to be Nexus led though.