(Yesterday, 3:51 pm)L469 YVK wrote Is the partnership 100% being broken up with Arriva though? If so, Arriva would be in prime position to step in and go back to pre-covid levels of service on the 306/308 with both via Battle Hill Drive which would stand well against the 307 & 309.

There's still a big market on Saturdays along the Coast Road for a frequent service especially at busy times including when big events, matches etc are on.

If Arriva retook the Coast Road, I could see something like the following happening with GNE's services.

- 97/97A re-introduced every 15 minutes, doing same as 301 MetroCentre-Whickham-Newcastle, then via Coast Road & High Farm to either Hadrian Park or Cobalt & Whitley Bay every 30 mins each.

- 301 curtailed in Gateshead or possibly merged with something like the 57.

- Section of 307 between North Shields and Hadrian Park merged into the 340/341, with direct links from Meadowell and parts of West Chirton and Norham Road to Newcastle withdrawn.

Seems like it as it's every 3/7 minutes again heading towards Newcastle. Ironically the Arriva bus leading. 

Truthfully if I was GNE I'd be tempted to curtail the 309 short at Whitley Bay or even New York and instead extend the 356 through to Blyth with the eventual aim that it'll serve the massive new Murton Gap development. 

It keeps the unique parts of the 309 and removes the deckers running with barely on between Whitley and Blyth and opens some new links in other areas. Heck you could probably up the 356 to every 30 minutes using the same PVR and drop the 355.