(02 Nov 2023, 1:39 pm)L469 YVK wrote Just thinking about this.....but Percy Main deppt I'd say is at big risk of closing for exactly the following reasons:

1.) Most routes other than the 307 & 309 (moved to Riverside) can easily be covered in parts or wholly by alternative services (352, 354, 355 vs 37, 38, 359 X7, X8, X63) or alternative operators (1, 41/41A, 335 (NEXUS), 351(NEXUS), 353, 359(NEXUS)).

2.) If a joint ZEBRA bid is submitted with the authorities, Arriva and GNE for the Coast Road corridor, that would effectively confirm Percy Main closing as I doubt the needed infrastructure could easily be implemented at Percy Main without a whole new depot. And even if GAG got offers if the new nearby housing development wanted to expand further down, I doubt GNE would re-invest in a new depot and instead, would pocket the money to pay down the COVID losses.

The X7, X8 and X63 certainly cannot cover the 354 at all. None of them 3 are going via Gosforth. Arriva have already attempted this and it was one of the most unpopular changes ever and quickly reversed as it was a complete farce.

They're express services, focused on the outer areas, not going around the house routes. When there's a new railway line opening, the last thing they need to do is make them slower than they already are.

There's just simply no demand for the 354 between Newcastle and Four Lane Ends and it can be done by changing onto a Metro and changing onto another bus anyway. The corridor has been slowing dying ever since Northumberland Park Metro station opened pretty much as it's just much quicker and easier via Metro.