(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 would say
Newcastle to Heworth - 15 Minutes
Heworth to Washington Galleries - 15 Minutes
Washington Galleries to Chester le Street via Motorway - 10 Minutes - Lambton/Ayton - 15 Minutes
In total the journey time is between 40-45 Minutes - Used the X9/X10 and M1 timetables to work out timings, also just looked at the 21 timetable and that takes 38 Minutes from Newcastle to Chester le Street also the X21 from Newcastle takes 30 Minutes.
So it could be quite a decent service timings wise.