I've had a think. Quite a radical move, but what about something like the following? It would need the Silverlink sorted out traffic wise by the authorities, but would offer some good connections.

Arriva (309/307 both interworking - PVR 12x)
- 309 (every 20 mins) current route but via Selby Gardens instead of High Farm.

- NEW 307 (every 20 mins) current 351 to Holystone Park but not serving Wiltshire Drive then continues to W.Bay hourly via the current 351 route.

The 307 during the day would have to do a loop of Park Ave > Park View and Marine Avenue in Whitley Bay for timekeeping though.


GNE (306/308 both interworking - PVR 12x)
306 (every 20 mins) Tynemouth - North Shields Albion Road - Preston Road - Queen Alexandra Road - Hawkeys Lane - Lansdowne Terrace - The Quadrant - Verne Road - Norham Road - Middle Engine Lane - The Silverlink - Willington Square - Selby Gardens - Coast Road - Newcastle

308 (every 20 mins) Whitley Bay Town Centre - Marden Estate - NTGH - Billy Mill - Willington Square - Battle Hill Drive - Selby Gardens - Coast Road - Newcastle


GNE 300 (PVR 4x)
300 (every 30 minutes) North Shields - Waterville Road - Avon & Ripley Avenue - Wallsend Road - Tyne Tunnel Trading Estate - The Silverlink - Middle Engine Lane - Hadrian Park - Battle Hill Drive - High Farm - Wiltshire Drive - Coast Road** - Newcastle

**Monday to Sunday daytimes would be limited stop only calling at Coast Road / Station Road, Corner House, Cradlewell, Civic Centre and St Mary's Place


Main Points
- Current 306 & 307 effectively merged into one east of the A19, with some handy links opened up despite being 5 minutes slower than the current 306 end to end. But more areas would benefit from a service that doesn't go around the houses (West Chirton, Norham Road).

- 308 & 309 would form a 10 minute service Battle Hill Drive to Newcastle as well as from Rake Lane, and a relatively even headway from Whitley Bay.

- Improved service for the Marden Estate.

- Holystone Park and East Benton Rise get an acceptable and attractive bus service, also forming the new main High Farm to Newcastle corridor (Station Road / Mullen Road roundabout stops). Anyone in High Farm who doesn't want to or can't walk to Station Road will still have the option of the less frequent 300.