(14 Sep 2023, 8:19 pm)L469 YVK wrote The 353 would hemorrhage cash if ran on a half hourly frequency standalone because with remote reliefs, there's no way drivers could do 5 hours behind the wheel (would be 2.5hr round trip)
Best outcome in March would be
Stagecoach
- X63 - Does Killingworth loop then as per 354/54 to Newcastle but via West Farm Avenue....maybe serving Stoneleigh Avenue to maintain close by BT links. Hourly evening & Sunday service introduced.
Go North East
- 352, 354, 355 withdrawn - covered by 37, 38, 353, 359, X63
- 353 half hourly
- Awarded 19 tender and interworks with 353 in North Shields to maintain driving hours
You've totally missed the point of the X63 which is an express bus from Killingworth to Newcastle, it's not express on a detour around Gosforth, this is X4 levels of stupidity which was quickly reversed.
I know this is the wrong thread but the best thing to have would be and I'm not sure how possibly it would be timetable wise (I haven't checked):
340: Wallsend to Hadrian Park (3 BPH)
341: Killingworth to Wallsend (Hourly)
342: Cramlington to Wallsend (Hourly)
343: Cramlington to North Shields (Hourly)
344: Kingston Park to North Shields (Hourly)
340: Current 41
341: Current 335 from Killingworth to Wiltshire Drive, 342 route into Wallsend
342: Old 42 additionally serving Wiltshire Drive
343: Current 353
344: Current 354, North Shields to Killingworth, current 342 from Killingworth to Kingston Park
342/343: Combined Killingworth to Wallsend
341/342: Combined Wiltshire Drive to Wallsend
343/344: Combined Northumberland Park to North Shields
There's only really the Hadrian Park section lost but you could keep it to Hadrian Park instead of Wallsend but there's currently no bus service between Wallsend and Quorum - 2 major points and is more worthwhile imo. The other half of the 354 wouldn't be replaced. The 342 currently is a mess of a bus route imo.