(3 hours ago)Storx wrote I'm not sure how workable it would be but I'd always love to see the 56 split in the middle into 3 different routes.
So you'd end up with something like this:
With each of them every 20 minutes combining every 10 minutes in the core replacing the 82, 84 and 85 and killing off the stupid Washington local services giving people direct services to places where they might actually want to be and the 28 doing the current 22 route merging with the 29 to give a 30 minute service from Prince Consort Road to Newcastle.
Note it's also setup for the future if the Metro ever came with it being the links to the new Metro station which is where all 3 meet.
You could even make a case of scrapping the 57 as it's clearly struggling and merge it into the other local Gateshead services.
You could easily merge the 2, 4, 56, 57, 58 and 84/85 into three or four core services linking Newcastle, Washington and Sunderland via local estates with a few suggestions below.
Sunderland via Washington to Newcastle
55 - via Southwick, Hylton Castle, Nissan, Sulgrave, Concord, Donwell, Blackfell, Oxclose, Washington, Lambton, Ayton, Birtley, Wrekenton, Q.E. Hospital and Gateshead
Sunderland via Washington to Newcastle
56 via Southwick, Hylton Castle, Nissan, Sulgrave, Concord, Donwell, Springwell, Wrekenton, Q.E. Hospital and Gateshead
Sunderland via Washington to Newcastle
57 - via Royal Hospital, Hastings Hill, Penshaw, Barnwell Estate, Fatfield, Harraton, Lambton, Glebe, Washington Village, Barmston, Concord, Usworth, Wardley, Heworth, Leam Lane Estate, Whitehills Estate, Ellen Wilkson Estate, Q.E. Hospital and Gateshead.
Newcastle via Houghton and Washington to Sunderland
58 - via Gateshead, Felling Square, Windy Nook, Whitehills Estate, Leam Lane Estate, Heworth, Follingsby Park, Usworth, Concord, Albany, Washington, Glebe, Biddick, Fatfield, Barnwell, Shiney Row, Bournmoor, Fencehouses, Houghton and A690 Durham Road.
Also with you mentioning merging the 57 into other Gateshead Locals I think the 53/54 would be a great suggestion opening up direct connections from/to local estates into Gateshead and Newcastle.
53/54 - Wardley, Heworth, Leam Lane Estate, Whitehills Estate, Ellen Wilkson Estate, Q.E. Hospital, Gateshead, Quayside, Newcastle, Bensham, Saltwell Park, Gateshead, Q.E. Hospital, Ellen Wilkinson Estate, Whitehills Estate, Leam Lane Estate, Heworth and Wardley.