(15 Jun 2024, 12:54 pm)L469 YVK wrote Could it not be something like.......
Every 20 minutes via Whickham & Dunston
- X30 - Stanley - Shield Row - Sunniside - Whickham - Dunston - Newcastle
- X70 - Consett - Leadgate - Dipton - Burnopfield - Sunniside - Whickham - Dunston - Newcastle
- X71 - Consett - Medomsley - Burnopfield - Sunniside - Whickham - Dunston - Newcastle
Bearing in mind, X72 would cover the Dipton to Gateshead links in situ of the X70/X71. Most of Consett could either do X45 > X66 or change in Sunniside if needing Gateshead or for latter option, Team Valley. Likelihood is that the X31/X32/X72 would operate a few minutes after the X30/X70/X71 due to the quicker route via Gateshead.
Every 20 minutes via Team Valley & Gateshead
- X31 - Stanley - East Stanley - Sunniside - Lobley Hill Bank - Team Valley North - Gateshead - Newcastle
- X32 - Stanley - East Stanley - Sunniside - Lobley Hill Estate - Team Valley North - Gateshead - Newcastle
- X72 - Stanley - Annfield Plain - Dipton - Flint Hill - - Tantobie (evenings & Sundays) - Burnopfield - Sunniside - Lobley Hill Bank - Team Valley North - Gateshead - Newcastle
Then the X73
- X73 - Stanley - Annfield Plain - Dipton - Flint Hill - Sleepy Valley - Sunniside - Whickham - MetroCentre - Newcastle
You'd be better splitting the services imo. No-one from Whickham wants to go to Stanley / Consett and the links already exist mostly with the 6 anyway.
Just send all the X30/X31/X70/X71 via Gateshead and have a short service to Whickham ran by single deckers instead doing all of Whickham.
Whether you want to curtail the 97 at Gateshead that's your choice, it's not exactly needed to cross the water anymore since the service is covered at most stops anyway.