(23 Jun 2013, 7:16 pm)BJ10VUS wrote Little bit off topic, but I wonder if this could work? A link between Newcastle and Chester-le-Street via Washington. Just some rough timings.
The service would start at either Pilgrim Street or Market Street West in Newcastle City Centre and then continue as an express to Gateshead and Heworth.
Gateshead Interchange - 9 minutes
Heworth Interchange - 19 minutes
From there, it would operate as a normal 'stopping' service between Heworth and Washington Galleries via Usworth College, Concord and Albany.
Usworth College - 30 minutes
Concord Bus Station - 35 minutes
Washington, The Galleries - 43 minutes
There's then two options. Running along the current 50 route (via Ayton and Lambton), the service would arrive at Chester-le-Street, South Burns 16-17 minutes later. This would make the total journey time 59 minutes - not really allowing for much of a turn around time.
Alternatively, the service could operate as an express between Washington and Chester-le-Street, South Burns via the motorway, arriving around 11-12 minutes later. This would make the total journey time just short of 55 minutes.
I think it could run as far as Washington, but bringing it to Chester Le Street is pointless. The reason I say that is there are two faster alternatives between Chester Le Street and Newcastle. The 21 will take you there in 45 mins, and the X21 in 30 mins. I couldn't see how Go North East could justify putting a service on that will take 15 mins longer to get to the destination.
There are no real benefits of the route between Washington and Heworth either. From what you've written it just runs the M1 route. Taking into account the 43 mins it would take between Washington and Newcastle, it would make it a slower service than the X1? So no real justification there either.
The only potential benefits I can see are: another fast link between Heworth and Newcastle (aside from the X3/X9/X10?). another link between Chester Le Street and Washington.