(24 Mar 2026, 9:34 pm)V514DFT wrote Just thinking out loud, but is there any way the 49/49A(which i'd renumber to 48) could be extended as an alternative

Not gonna lie, I was kinda thinking about the 12 in a similar way (not suggesting it's a good idea mind).

Could easily cut through Winlaton and then continue through to Rowlands Gill and cash in on the R's subsidies at the same time. Winlaton probably does serve more than 2 buses an hour to Newcastle tbh, especially the route it takes around Winlaton aswell.