(16 Dec 2024, 10:33 am)PH - BQA wrote On a walk through Gosforth this morning I saw 5498 on the 0749 Q3X. It went past the Brunton Park stop with the 49 just behind, and neither looked to stop. As I walked past the stop 30 seconds later, there was about 8 people waiting for a bus of some description - they most certainly didn't all get there in the 30 seconds between 5498 passing and me walking past.

The 49 was terminating at Regent Centre, so I understand the logic behind not getting that, but the Q3X would have taken every single person waiting into Newcastle (which is where I assume they were going). Is there an assumption from the public that the Q3X takes the same route as the Q3, and as such they'd prefer to wait for an Arriva service to town? Does the peak-only nature of it mean that people are happy to let it pass and get an Arriva service which they can buy a return ticket on?

The decision to perform the loop in the direction that it does also means that it omits the Glamis Avenue stop, which always seems to have people waiting for a bus.

It doesn't seem like the thought process behind the Q3/Q3X changes was sanity checked by anyone with any understanding of the busy stops in the area, or what people actually want. The Q3X, in particular, seems like a waste of time when for all bar 2 stops people will be better off getting either an Arriva express or a 43/44/45.

To be honest the 49 is really confusing in the morning when the students from Gosforth academy get on and then the timings just suddenly go to every 1 hour which I see no point in actually having the 49 as even existing.But the Q3/Q3X situation is really confusing and the bus drivers at Haymarket still have to remind the passengers that it doesn’t go to Jesmond.IMO gne need to do 1 of 2 things either get rid of the jesmond part or scrap the Q3X entirely.Personally I’d rather they get rid of Jesmond as during peak time Jesmond is packed and the traffic is mad especially with waiting for the traffic lights taking ages to turn green at that junction bit and basically most of the time they are always late by 10-15 mins.I have never once seen a Q3 on time when it’s heading towards Wallsend.And then you have buses terminating at St Peter’s like an awkward one the 14:52 out of regent centre(can’t remember what time it leaves Brunton lol) just randomly terminates at St Peter’s leaving a gap between St Peter’s and Wallsend and having to wait 40 mins.Hope anyone has any comments about this stuff.Idm if u agree or disagree I just want answers lol bc it’s really confusing and frustrating.