(24 Feb 2024, 1:27 pm)Aaron21 wrote How it feels always a service suggestion for the coast road for whatever reasonHaha, fair enough. But there is a serious issue though. GNE & Arriva have added running time for March's changes. And that's without thousands of homes propped up. The traffic siutation is only going to get worse and ever since the 44 was withdrawn, the east of North Tyneside has been crying out for an express.
If GNE, Arriva & NOTCA/TNE get it right, it could create future growth.
(24 Feb 2024, 11:51 am)Storx wrote For once, don't really disagree with the Coast Road changes, the only thing I'd personally say is terminate the 309 short at Whitley Bay and instead the extend the 306 through from Tynemouth to Blyth.Only issue with the 354 replacement if the 359 wasn't to run, would be the lack of NT Hospital to Backworth / Killingworth service.
I actually think in the leisure months having a Coastal bus which runs the whole stretch from North Shields to Blyth via Tynemouth, Seaton Sluice and Whitley Bay could actually be quite popular. It's some different destinations from Blyth than 'another' bus to Newcastle.
Personally though I'd keep the 354 but change it and run it something like this every 30 minutes, every hour on the two separate sections:
It would open quite a few links up especially to Gosforth which is quite difficult to get to without doubling back via Newcastle and also sort out the 351 without it going anywhere near the Coast Road. At the same time, you could cancel the W2 and 335 as neither are really needed anymore, I know there'll be the odd moan from the likes of Hadrian Park to ASDA but it's not worth the tax payers money, all the unique sections which are currently unserved at all are covered. The 335 could however maybe run once a day as a workers service to Quorum - maybe extending to Cobalt to open those links
Only thing is could the 359 still run, or maybe interwork with one of the 351/354 replacements?