(14 Apr 2025, 6:42 pm)V514DFT wrote What needs to happen, is go back to pre 2003 when Stagecoach butchered the 60's group of services, theres bits of those old services that probably would do better now in 2025 than the did lin the late 90's/early 00's, your 64 suggestion isn't a million miles away from what the old 63 did
The 61 used to do what your 62 suggestion
Then there was the 62/62A that went through Longbenton, can't remember what the 62B used to do
The 63 went straight down Benton Lane then picked upits current route from Southgate- Killingworth Bus Station
The 64 was Chapel House- Forest Hall (Glebe Road)(the 38 also terminated/started here)
And the 64A was evenings/Sundays only and pretty much did what is now the current day 63, what else is also funny, is your 64, i suggested that exact route to Stagecoach in 2009, they weren't interested
Not too dissimilar then, I was thinking Glebe Road instead of Meadway but they serve it now so thought why not.
Tbh, I just think there's too many 60's from Killingworth to Byker. Like how many people really want to go there? There's nothing really anything inbetween to serve either which warrants 8 BPH either. 3 BPH is more than enough as long as there's the extensions ie. the 61/64 there to cover the unique parts of the 62/63. The 37/38 is just a better service as it's quicker to Newcastle, serves a hospital on the way, and also goes further into Newcastle and gives a direct link to Central Station where people might actually want to be imo.
The 18 to Cramlington also makes sense as it gives a Cramlington / Burradon to or from Byker/Walker link. Okay there's probably not much demand there but there's zero demand for a bus to Newcastle via that route. The 37/38(Short)/38(Long)/38A is also a bit confusing atm as an understatement aswell.