(23 Jul 2014, 2:42 pm)Robert wrote Yeah, at least divert a service that makes a lot of money to start with. Does the Loop services make much? With going along that way im sure they could change the route for the buses to serve The Sage and that would only add a few extra minutes (5 at the most) onto the timetable and would see the restoration of part of the route (and a main place at that) and still have the connection to Gateshead but without the route to Central Station. The Baltic also isnt that far away and im sure people wouldnt mind the short walk. With a route like the Loop if it doesnt quite take off it can be changed back or the money lost can be made up on other parts of the route.
I dont really think the Q2 needs replacing partly in any way as when i have been to Newcastle, most of which is on weekends, no Q2 journeys have been busy enough to say that there needs to be a route from Haymarket to St Peters Basin and im sure there are a few Stagecoach services that run nearby to St Peters Basin into the City Centre without going down onto the Quayside.
The CitySightseeing service will still go down onto the Quayside so there is another connection for people who dont want to make the walk down but this, as we know will be inconvenient for Disabled passengers but the buses used arent easy access and although im sure they will eventually but at the moment im not sure if they are planning on replacing the Olympians any time soon.
The 93/94 seem ok on patches of the route and obviously in the peaks.
I imagine it will suffer during the college/school hols and factory fortnight more than others.
However, it can and does often suffer with reliability due to traffic - so not sure about extending it and possibly delaying it even more.
I did suggest the 96 for a replacement, but wonder if the 53/54 could work - as they hit the town and use parts of Gateshead that the Q1 does already.
Maybe worth the mods sticking some of these posts in route suggestions - but a short 1 Whitley Bay, Byker etc - St Peters, Quayside, Q2 route and reverse.