(23 Mar 2026, 9:28 pm)X919 WGR wrote See thats would it would have to be as that was the result as to why the V5 was removed. The 47A replaced it at that time which then caused GNE to create the V3 between Medomsley/The Dene & Consett going through Shotley (i think).

I think some possible simple solutions GNE could come up with to try and at least calm down the 45 & 47 especially with more common Enviro 200MMC Allocations

So here's what I would do.

I won't do timings for these suggestions.

- Withdraw Services V1 & V2 since Venture is no longer being continued and remove the Town Centre --> Crookhall section of the V5.
- Have the 47 be extended to Crookhall & Delves Lane to cover the V1/V2 circular & V5 chunk.
- Change the V5 to Start at Templetown/Hownsgill Depot and run through this order: Hownsgill --> Consett --> Shotley Bridge --> Hospital --> Shotley Bridge Bank (Summerhill) --> The Dene --> Medomsley. This will remove the 16 to Shotley Extension. Also route does not need to be named the V5. Could be the C1 or a random number or even be the same
                                                                                                   (replaces V5 from Consett to Medomsley)
- Reintroduce the 47A as either 46 or 45A. Runs between Consett --> Leadgate --> Bradley Bungalows --> Medomsley --> Ebchester Bank --> Lintzford --> Rowlands Gill --> Metrocentre --> Newcastle Eldon Square. Reintroduces the Metrocentre & Rowlands Gill link for Leadgate to Medomsley for the 3rd time in the past 20 years.


Summarised.
- Reintroduced Links to Metrocentre & Newcastle for Delves Lane
- V5 becomes a Shotley Circular
- An Additional Metrocentre Bus for Leadgate & Medomsley

Its not a lot but could just quieten down some of the 45 journeys

See I get your ideas there but personally I'd go further.

Personally I'd look at an express Newcastle network that looks something like:


It creates an easy network with the vast majority of places getting 2 BPH towards Newcastle without any of the confusion and both Stanley and Consett getting 2 buses to Gateshead aswell and a dedicated Whickham Express.  As much as the X45/47 has it's problems the 6/X30/X31/X32/X70/X71/X71A/X72/X73 mess is even worse; it's just completely confusing which one goes where. Just get it nice and tidy.

The rest of the links, will be done with some local services, probably similar to the 43/44 from yesteryear which would do Burnopfield etc.