(09 Jul 2024, 8:31 pm)Storx wrote Not sure I agree with them from the Northern area, it's all much of the same (also unless you're putting breadvans on then the 19/W1 merger is a no go.
Assuming franchising now I'd look at something like instead personally for the non Newcastle routes:
With the following services all running every 30 minutes:
53 (Purple): Newbiggin Hall to North Shields via Kingston Park, Dudley, Killingworth, Forest Hall, Shiremoor, Cobalt
57 (Blue): Morpeth to North Shields via Bedlington, Cramlington, Seaton Delaval, Monkseaton, Whitley Bay, NT Hospital
58 (Red): Ashington to North Shields via Bedlington Station, Bedlington, Cramlington Ind. Estates, Cramlington, East Cramlington, Seaton Delaval, Backworth, Cobalt, Silverlink
59 (Orange): East Hartford to Wallsend via Cramlington, Killingworth, Forest Hall
With these current routes scrapped:
19
43 (Cramlington to Morpeth)
57/57A
58
317 (North Shields to Whitley Bay)
342
353
It would open lots of new links between the main towns without any real dog legs and remove the Deckers from the 43 between Morpeth and Cramlington which are over kill.
To be honest I don’t think the 342 as it is should extend to Westerhope that could very easily be integrated into the 87 Stagecoach route which would fit in with the network in the area. Your 53 then could operate as you’ve suggested.