(16 Apr 2025, 8:13 am)Superman wrote Ashington was, until recently, over capacity.

Aye that's fair, wasn't aware of that. 

(16 Apr 2025, 7:17 pm)V514DFT wrote 2022/2023 was a wonky time, there's a few factors involved, the big depot which just sort of phased out, the driver shortages which would regularly see the 50 services cancelled anyway, closure of Jesmond, the sharing of Walkergate which just wasnt practical, these group of services never quite got back to pre-covid levels, I mean here we are 5 years on and bus companies are still somewhat recovering, I mean we could argue did GNE ever really want the 351-355, to mean it was just a token "hey we know we screwed over North Tyneside, but here are these new services we're going to run" just always seemed half arsed, with only the 355 being half hourly (now hourly with the 356), and even then it doesnt run til late or on Sundays, the 352-355 all had potential in some way, but give it 12 months and the 352 and 354 will both be gone, probably the 54 also, can you see Nexus wanting to keep the 54 going long term, cus I can't, but it was mentioned in another thread, that this new 356 is probably a way of seeing off the 54/354, but if anything were to happen, is can see it going back to Arrivas 2010 "big chop", 356 will do its old routing, the 353 will become what was the 343 to Whitley Bay, the real mystery is the 355, maybe that will do somewhat its old routing to Shiremoor then divert to Shields, who knows

imo North Tyneside badly needs more local services with forced integration with Metro. I know some will whine on about that like it's some obscure idea but stuff like the 351 shouldn't exist in it's entirity. (Should be Northumberland Park to Newcastle only)

They'd be much better extending the likes of the W1/W2 to Northumberland Park at least every 30 minutes and forcing an interchange. It's not like there's not a good service, in the near future, there's going to be 6 TPH on the Metro and 2 TPH direct to Central via National Rail and the current 350/351 at the Whitley side are very quiet as an understatement (1/2 passengers territory bar peaks). 

It'll need a refurbishment but Northumberland Park should be what Four Lane Ends used to be before privitation. It's in a good spot to do it aswell as the services mostly already exist or are very nearby with short extensions ie. the 22 and there's not much doubling back, unlike North Shields.