Quite possibly outrageous
, but I'd like to see Monday to Saturday daytime journeys on service 9 operate from Jarrow via Tyne Tunnel to Percy Main, Howdon, Wallsend and the Coast Road to Newcastle Haymarket every 30 minutes. This provides a faster alternative to the Crusader between Jarrow and Newcastle, and better serves Northumbria University than the 27 for students in South Tyneside. A direct bus is introduced between the Haymarket area of Newcastle to Wallsend, Howdon and Royal Quays; and residents on the Coast Road have improved access to Wallsend, South Tyneside and Sunderland. The 9 would continue to serve North Shields during the evenings and on Sundays.
To replace the Monday to Saturday daytime service to North Shields, the North Tyne Links 80 would extend from North Shields to Jarrow via Howdon Road. In Jarrow, service 80 would operate an anti-clockwise route taking in Jarrow Morrisons, High Street, Abbey Drive, Saxon Way, Priory Road, Chaytor Street, Ellison Street and Jarrow Bus Station. This gives a new half-hourly local bus service between Jarrow Town Centre and the Abbey Drive area of Jarrow, which is quite a walking distance from existing services. Service 80 would be timed to connect with service 9 for through passengers between North Shields and Sunderland, and would continue to interwork with North Tyne Links 40/41 at Wallsend. A direct service would be introduced between South Tyneside and North Tyneside General Hospital and Cobalt Business Park.
Again, quite possibly outrageous to suggest messing around with the 9, but I think it could work if given an iconic brand and fierce marketing
