For the X30 route in Blyth
The route to be a loop in Blyth as follows:
Newcastle - A1 - Spine Road - Plessey Road - Blyth Bus Station (as now), but rather than terminating at Blyth bus station as now, extend either direct via Cowpen Road or via the 1 route to Bebside Interchange and then from Bebside interchange, directly enter the spine road there at the Bebside Roundabout and back to Newcastle that way.
The reverse loop would also exist so doing Newcastle - Spine Road, exiting spine road at Bebside, then into Blyth town centre and then back out to Newcastle via current X30 route.
Advantages to this would be
- Faster links to Newcastle from Cowpen and Bebside areas, more directly competing with train. Would make a significant cut to journey times from these areas, and make bus more attractive against train.
- For those travelling from the town centre, double the express buses to Newcastle, as I would have each loop running hourly, so would be 2 per hour from Blyth Bus Station (1 via current route, 1 via Bebside)
- Cross Blyth links on one direct bus, no need to change buses in the town centre.
I hope this makes sense. I am aware some trips on the current X30 do start at Bebside interchange, but then they go via Blyth Town Centre so this new way from Bebside direct to Spine Road A189 be much quicker.
So would be two routes, both direction loops, an X30A and X30B
This would require more resource and probably the X30 to be split from the X20, but maybe it could be run by Blyth with Pulsars which would probably be sufficient. Think it would be worth a go as Bebside - Newcastle is still too slow currently and so the extra resource might keep people on the bus and off the train.
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