(17 Aug 2025, 7:42 pm)Malarkey wrote 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.
Aye you could do, I did think about merging the Sunderland services all across to Newcastle but kind of went against it. There's quite big problems with the 56, as it's so long that when something goes wrong, ie every match day. It leaves the other end of the route with a complete shambles of a service (take your pick which match here).
Least if you had some shorter ones, at least half the boards won't be affected at what's happened at the other end of the route.
Seen quite a few people moaning about the 56 in Gateshead because of issues in Sunderland, and it's a fair complaint really.
Obviously it all depends how many people are going from the two ends, but can't imagine it being too much as it takes so long and generally people in Gateshead don't want to be in Sunderland and people in North Sunderland in Newcastle, hence the numerous express attempts have all failed miserably.