(26 Jul 2026, 6:19 pm)EastGatesheadRider wrote New idea 2 : BP1 Metrocentre - Oaklands Garden Centre - Winlaton Mill - Medomsley - Derwentside IRC
runs hourly until these times but at 16:00
Metrocentre Interchange 07:00
Oaklands Garden Centre 07:07
Winalton Mill Noel Av 07:11
Longclose Bank 07:18
Medomsley 07:20
Derwentisde IRC 07:24
Good for IRC workers of all shifts
Used so GCT doesnt need to extend the R3/R4/R5 and I think an R6 to the Metrocentre (The R2 is ran by GNE)
Good if you dont want to use the x's or the 47 towards Consett
A few things.....
I drive, walk, and cycle past Oaklands Garden Centre quite regularly (also at different times of the day), and I've never seen a great deal of traffic going in and out of the place. Furthermore, there are no bus stops located directly outside Oaklands with the nearest being either Swalwell Roundabout or Axwell Hall depending on the direction of travel, so I'm not sure how it can be used as a timing point or a notable sub-destination for the route.
I also pass Derwentside IRC quite regularly, and aside from the odd demonstration, you never see anyone going in and out of there either. The X71 also passes on an hourly basis and runs to both Newcastle and Consett, so I'm not sure of the benefits of running an hourly service which specifically terminates there.