(17 Dec 2025, 9:13 pm)logidoodah wrote Route Suggestion for the 471/472/473 in Alnwick and surrounding areas.

I take it these are contracted but think the routes below are a better use of public funds...

472 - Rothbury to Shilbottle (via Alnwick) [every 2 hours] (Red)
473 - Wooler to Shilbottle (via Alnwick) [every 2 hours] (Yellow)

*combined freq from Shilbottle to Alwick keeping with the 472s current hourly frequency here. but incorporating the 471/473 as an extension each way.

Light blue is combined hourly route...

could be done with 2 vehicles (if i've worked it out correctly) and can start/finish in Wooler round the corner from the Glen Valley depot, so reduced lost mileage too

One thought I had with the 472 was from Shilbottle do an anticlockwise loop via High Buston, A1068, South View/Curly Lane for (Alnmouth Rail Station), A1068 back into Alnwick to give a better connection to Alnmouth Rail Station via the local estates.

I think the 473 would be better for the Rothbury extension with a clockwise loop from Alnwick via Shilbottle, Hampeth, Newton-Le-Moor, Swarland, Old Swarland, Longframlington, Rothbury, Thropton, Lorbottle, Whittingham then B6341 back into Alnwick. You could also introduce a 474 to an anticlockwise loop interworking off the 472 at Alnwick.

Unrelated but I would also extend Border Buses 418 to Alnwick via Alnwick Rail Station and I'd look to retime Arriva's X15/X18/X20 so you have clean set frequency of every 20 minutes from Alnwick to Newcastle.