(11 hours ago)Ambassador wrote The Metro is the obvious answer here, Gateshead is incredibly well connected for what is a secondary town

NECA should follow some of the lessons of Manchester in terms of integration and focus on buses serving areas where the Metro doesn't go.

Burnham's bus network is losing millions because of the meandering routes like you've suggested - they aren't sustainable, we need to move away from this idea that everywhere needs a bus service - it doesn't - hub and spoke is a sustainable future

And I think they will, where they can. Kim constantly makes reference to everything being joined up, and I think the move from Metro/Rail being the competition, to actually being part of the solution, will allow NECA to do more with their resources.

Clearly we have a deficit when it comes to rail compared to Greater Manchester, but there's certainly opportunities there to improve rail/Metro connectivity. It doesn't always have to be a 'think big' approach either, there's much simpler projects like extending rail to Team Valley & Birtley that could be acted on.

I disagree with the notion that not everywhere needs a bus service. Public transport should be seen as basic infrastructure, and whilst it doesn't mean everyone should have a 10 minute frequency, we really need to move away from so many places being cut-off altogether.