(24 Aug 2023, 5:28 pm)L469 YVK wrote I do think an initial trial night bus covering the Coast Road on a Friday & Saturday evening (backed by TNE/NECA, Arriva & GNE) would work though using 1x bus (a StreetLite). GNE are already losing money on the last full 1 ex Whitley Bay to MetroCentre with all the dead running back to Percy Main. An N308 would give the service opportunity to carry revenue back towards the Coast, plus the fact that the STACK in Whitley Bay would also minimise losses towards Newcastle to pick up the later journey.
Newcastle Newgate Street - The Gate: 00:25
Whitley Bay - Park Avenue: 01:04
Whitley Bay - The Avenue (For STACK): 01:10
Newcastle - St Mary's Place: 01:44
Newcastle Newgate Street - The Gate: 01:55
Whitley Bay - Park Avenue: 02:34
Newcastle stops:
* Newgate Street - The Gate
* Grainger Street - McDonalds
* Market Street West
* Pilgrim Street
* John Dobson Street - Near City Hall
Then same route as 308 but via High Farm & Battle Hill Drive, and omitting Silverlink slip road
You need more than just an entertainment venue to sustain a night bus. Like I've said, the main thing keeping the 56 running is Nissan/supplier employees as well as Newcastle and Sunderland's bar staff, they're regulars that use them nearly every night, everyone else is just a chance that they'll actually use a bus. I do think an hourly night bus throughout the metro network could work, but it couldn't survive commercially, it would need to be funded from elsewhere.