I feel the answer lies within services of years gone by, it just needs adapting to fit within the "new" normal in the year 2025

Registration numberPB0003954/1463
Licence NumberPB0003954
Variation number
StatusNew
Service number.342, 342
Service typeNormal Stopping
Start pointKingston Park
Finish pointWallsend
ViaHazlerigg, Wideopen, Dudley, Killingworth, Forest Hall, Benton ASDA, Benton Rise
Date received07 Feb 2025
Effective date23 Mar 2025

Registration numberPB0003954/1462
Licence NumberPB0003954
Variation number
StatusNew
Service number.54, 54N
Service typeNormal Stopping
Start pointWhitley Bay
Finish pointNewcastle
ViaNorth Tyneside Hospital, Cobalt Park, Shiremoor, Killingworth, Quorum Park, Gosforth
Date received07 Feb 2025
Effective date23 Mar 2025

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Omg I can't believe what I've just read

The 352 is staying. Why what's the absolute point. Where are they getting these extra buses from

Registration numberPB0003954/1387
Licence NumberPB0003954
Variation number2
StatusVariation
Service number.352, 352
Service typeNormal Stopping
Start pointNewcastle
Finish pointCramlington
ViaFreeman Hospital, Four Lane Ends, Quorum Business Park, Killingworth, Burradon, Dudley
Date received07 Feb 2025
Effective date23 Mar 2025

(07 Feb 2025, 3:58 pm)Aaron21 wrote Registration numberPB0003954/1463
Licence NumberPB0003954
Variation number
StatusNew
Service number.342, 342
Service typeNormal Stopping
Start pointKingston Park
Finish pointWallsend
ViaHazlerigg, Wideopen, Dudley, Killingworth, Forest Hall, Benton ASDA, Benton Rise
Date received07 Feb 2025
Effective date23 Mar 2025

Registration numberPB0003954/1462
Licence NumberPB0003954
Variation number
StatusNew
Service number.54, 54N
Service typeNormal Stopping
Start pointWhitley Bay
Finish pointNewcastle
ViaNorth Tyneside Hospital, Cobalt Park, Shiremoor, Killingworth, Quorum Park, Gosforth
Date received07 Feb 2025
Effective date23 Mar 2025

---

Omg I can't believe what I've just read

The 352 is staying. Why what's the absolute point. Where are they getting these extra buses from

Registration numberPB0003954/1387
Licence NumberPB0003954
Variation number2
StatusVariation
Service number.352, 352
Service typeNormal Stopping
Start pointNewcastle
Finish pointCramlington
ViaFreeman Hospital, Four Lane Ends, Quorum Business Park, Killingworth, Burradon, Dudley
Date received07 Feb 2025
Effective date23 Mar 2025

That'll be the OAP's complaining they'll no longer have a direct bus service to Marks & Spencers in the Haymarket 

So basically these changes tell me, the whole passenger questionnaire was a waste of time, as they're already on VOSA..............


PB0003954/1431
Cancellation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X78 (X78) Newcastle Darras Hall

PB0003954/1463
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 342 (342) Kingston Park Wallsend

PB0003954/1462
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 54 (54N) Whitley Bay Newcastle

PB0003954/304
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 309 (309, 307) North Shields Newcastle

PB0003954/1388
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 353 (353) North Shields Cramlington

PB0003954/1389
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 354 (354) North Shields Newcastle

PB0003954/1221
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 1 (1) Whitley Bay Metrocentre
PB0003954/1377
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X39 (X39) Cobalt Park Newcastle

PB0003954/1151
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 41 (340, 341) Hadrian Park Wallsend

PB0003954/1432
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 317 (317) Wallsend Whitley Bay

PB0003954/1387
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 352 (352) Newcastle Cramlington

PB0003954/1390
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 355 (355, 356) Whitley Bay / Forest Hall Newcastle

(07 Feb 2025, 7:19 pm)Michael wrote So basically these changes tell me, the whole passenger questionnaire was a waste of time, as they're already on VOSA..............


PB0003954/1431
Cancellation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X78 (X78) Newcastle Darras Hall

PB0003954/1463
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 342 (342) Kingston Park Wallsend

PB0003954/1462
New GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 54 (54N) Whitley Bay Newcastle

PB0003954/304
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 309 (309, 307) North Shields Newcastle

PB0003954/1388
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 353 (353) North Shields Cramlington

PB0003954/1389
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 354 (354) North Shields Newcastle

PB0003954/1221
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 1 (1) Whitley Bay Metrocentre
PB0003954/1377
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED X39 (X39) Cobalt Park Newcastle

PB0003954/1151
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 41 (340, 341) Hadrian Park Wallsend

PB0003954/1432
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 317 (317) Wallsend Whitley Bay

PB0003954/1387
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 352 (352) Newcastle Cramlington

PB0003954/1390
Variation GO NORTH EAST LIMITED 355 (355, 356) Whitley Bay / Forest Hall Newcastle

Dunno mind, if the 352 was for the chopping block, and now reversed their decision

---

I thought they were getting the 351 aswell

Could the 352 not be an evening & Sunday contract for the Cramlington - Newcastle part of the route? Do Stagecoach currently run the evening & Sunday 37 journeys commercially or with subsidy?

---

Also.....no doubt GNE will insist keeping the 309 through High Farm despite the lack of "legal & safe" opportunity for drivers to recover time lost on the Coast as opposed to run via Selby Gardens. Fair enough they're adding an extra bus on Sundays with a long layover in Blyth. But the Monday to Saturday timekeeping has been shocking. Surely High Farm can cope fine with just the 307 running every 20 minutes!

If GNE think they can make money with a 10 minute service through High Farm, then an extra bus needs added to the 309. It's bad enough now, but timekeeping will be even worse if the 307/309 end up with Angel StreetDecks!

(08 Feb 2025, 8:48 am)L469 YVK wrote Could the 352 not be an evening & Sunday contract for the Cramlington - Newcastle part of the route? Do Stagecoach currently run the evening & Sunday 37 journeys commercially

37 are nexus on evenings & Sundays. Gne better not run a evenings Sundays 352 as that will just go to show sour towards that the 37 is miles better anyway and gne are just wanting more money

(08 Feb 2025, 10:01 am)Aaron21 wrote 37 are nexus on evenings & Sundays. Gne better not run a evenings Sundays 352 as that will just go to show sour towards that the 37 is miles better anyway and gne are just wanting more money

Your attitude stinks

(08 Feb 2025, 12:08 pm)V514DFT wrote Your attitude stinks

I don't understand how. It's a clear point. The 352 is a worse service that the 37 and its pathetic Go North East are keeping it even though they say it's low passenger numbers

Don't go around putting up consultation on your withdrawn a service due to low passenger service then instantly uturn it 2 days after. It's pathetic 

Name at one point how my attitude stinks

(08 Feb 2025, 3:06 pm)Aaron21 wrote I don't understand how. It's a clear point. The 352 is a worse service that the 37 and its pathetic Go North East are keeping it even though they say it's low passenger numbers

Don't go around putting up consultation on your withdrawn a service due to low passenger service then instantly uturn it 2 days after. It's pathetic 

Name at one point how my attitude stinks

Annnnd my point is proven right there

(08 Feb 2025, 3:06 pm)Aaron21 wrote I don't understand how. It's a clear point. The 352 is a worse service that the 37 and its pathetic Go North East are keeping it even though they say it's low passenger numbers

Don't go around putting up consultation on your withdrawn a service due to low passenger service then instantly uturn it 2 days after. It's pathetic 

Name at one point how my attitude stinks

I’ve never heard someone be so annoyed that a bus service is not being withdrawn haha. 

The 37 is hardly a perfect service. It’s delayed very frequently.

(08 Feb 2025, 5:10 pm)Thomas12 wrote I’ve never heard someone be so annoyed that a bus service is not being withdrawn haha. 

The 37 is hardly a perfect service. It’s delayed very frequently.

I always think it's a shame that the 18 was binned by Stagecoach. It arguably would have been the best route to extend up there as no-one North of Four Lane Ends is realistically going to be using the thing to head to Newcastle unless they have a refusal to use Arriva services for some bizarre reason.

Would've opened up a few new links and meant the 18 actually ran to somewhere rather than a dead end terminus of Benton Square.

(08 Feb 2025, 5:59 pm)Storx wrote I always think it's a shame that the 18 was binned by Stagecoach. It arguably would have been the best route to extend up there as no-one North of Four Lane Ends is realistically going to be using the thing to head to Newcastle unless they have a refusal to use Arriva services for some bizarre reason.

Would've opened up a few new links and meant the 18 actually ran to somewhere rather than a dead end terminus of Benton Square.

The 18 is a funny route, sometimes it's packed, and sometimes it's totally dead, but it's quite surprising that it's still going, problem is is the shadowing of routes
37/62/63(in part)/352/353(in part)/354(in part)/X63 (in part)
38/63/355
Then as of March throw the 342 and 356 into the mix
Technically the 18 and 335 could be merged together, Powder Monkey-Benton is covered by the 342

(08 Feb 2025, 6:45 pm)V514DFT wrote The 18 is a funny route, sometimes it's packed, and sometimes it's totally dead, but it's quite surprising that it's still going, problem is is the shadowing of routes
37/62/63(in part)/352/353(in part)/354(in part)/X63 (in part)
38/63/355
Then as of March throw the 342 and 356 into the mix
Technically the 18 and 335 could be merged together, Powder Monkey-Benton is covered by the 342

Aye to be fair it serves quite a few important links especially to the Freeman but it's just a dead end at both ends. No-one and I mean no-one wants to go to Walker as there's nothing there and it's the same with Benton Square which probably suggests the dead flows tbh.

Not going to lie, I've always thought it would be good to head in the 6/7 direction to see a sort of outer loop service which would involve working with the Great Park which would integrate all the subsidised routes like this:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.00045...?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDIwNS4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

Which includes the
M71: Kingston Park to Westerhope
49: Great Park to Gosforth
553: Regent Centre to Freeman
18: Freeman to Walker
Q3: St Peter's to Wallsend

Would create a quite useful service linking up quite a few key places and the tax payers are paying for the full thing pretty much anyway bar from Kingston Park to the Great Park in bits and pieces especially for The Great Park as they're very vocal for a link to the Freeman so might aswell call their bluff.

Whether you wanted to go further South that's an option but obviously that's probably better suited to be decided by people in the West End.

(08 Feb 2025, 8:06 pm)Storx wrote Aye to be fair it serves quite a few important links especially to the Freeman but it's just a dead end at both ends. No-one and I mean no-one wants to go to Walker as there's nothing there and it's the same with Benton Square which probably suggests the dead flows tbh.

Not going to lie, I've always thought it would be good to head in the 6/7 direction to see a sort of outer loop service which would involve working with the Great Park which would integrate all the subsidised routes like this:
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/55.00045...?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MDIwNS4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D


Which includes the
M71: Kingston Park to Westerhope
49: Great Park to Gosforth
553: Regent Centre to Freeman
18: Freeman to Walker
Q3: St Peter's to Wallsend

Would create a quite useful service linking up quite a few key places and the tax payers are paying for the full thing pretty much anyway bar from Kingston Park to the Great Park in bits and pieces especially for The Great Park as they're very vocal for a link to the Freeman so might aswell call their bluff.

Whether you wanted to go further South that's an option but obviously that's probably better suited to be decided by people in the West End.

To be completely honest this would actually be a perfect idea as we only have Q3 serving between north and east of Newcastle(at the moment) and this could solve many problems with the Q3 and then terminates at newbiggin Hall which is great.However only issue is is with how long the route would be and the frequency of it but overall this a very good suggestion

(08 Feb 2025, 10:53 pm)BusEnthusiast.com wrote To be completely honest this would actually be a perfect idea as we only have Q3 serving between north and east of Newcastle(at the moment) and this could solve many problems with the Q3 and then terminates at newbiggin Hall which is great.However only issue is is with how long the route would be and the frequency of it but overall this a very good suggestion

Yeah must admit I did think about the length but the 6/7 do a similarish route bar slightly further South and they cope alright so I guess it's doable. I do think it would do alright the section from the Great Park to Byker, at least, to be honest. The 553 is busy enough as it and I'd imagine people in the Great Park would be happy with that link.

Could even go further and convert the Great Park white elephant car park into a NHS Car Park and let staff use it to get to the Freeman. I know there's serious issues with lack of parking for staff so could be a fix for it, even known it's a 20 minute or so bus ride.

(08 Feb 2025, 11:24 pm)Storx wrote Yeah must admit I did think about the length but the 6/7 do a similarish route bar slightly further South and they cope alright so I guess it's doable. I do think it would do alright the section from the Great Park to Byker, at least, to be honest. The 553 is busy enough as it and I'd imagine people in the Great Park would be happy with that link.

Could even go further and convert the Great Park white elephant car park into a NHS Car Park and let staff use it to get to the Freeman. I know there's serious issues with lack of parking for staff so could be a fix for it, even known it's a 20 minute or so bus ride.

The NHS fund the 553 and I don't think they'd want to change to this suggestion for the simple reason that the length of it would mean the chances of delays are greater. The 553 already has issues keeping to timetable at peak times, and it is an important service along with the H for getting NHS staff between locations. Delays cost them money and productivity, which is why the contracts are value for money for them.

(09 Feb 2025, 10:32 am)Shrek wrote The NHS fund the 553 and I don't think they'd want to change to this suggestion for the simple reason that the length of it would mean the chances of delays are greater. The 553 already has issues keeping to timetable at peak times, and it is an important service along with the H for getting NHS staff between locations. Delays cost them money and productivity, which is why the contracts are value for money for them.

Yeah don't disagree, guess it depends how the timetable was done, I suppose, if it could allow extra running time around Gosforth (the problem area) at peak times by having the longer service then I'd imagine they'd be supportive of it.

You have to remember Nexus used to fund an extension to Battle Hill bolted onto it, so they've been open to a longer service in the past.

(09 Feb 2025, 10:42 am)Storx wrote Yeah don't disagree, guess it depends how the timetable was done, I suppose, if it could allow extra running time around Gosforth (the problem area) at peak times by having the longer service then I'd imagine they'd be supportive of it.

You have to remember Nexus used to fund an extension to Battle Hill bolted onto it, so they've been open to a longer service in the past.

I believe the reason they were supportive with the Nexus extension was because it opened up a link to another NHS building (I can't remember which). They were however unhappy with the delays that caused and there was a lot of discussion between them and Arriva at the time. The suggested route does make sense, I do suspect the NHS would continue to fund the 553 even if it did happen though.

352, I'm one of the people who asked for it to stay but only morning and evening peak times.   I understand it not being that viable during the day.

The Metro is problematic in operation at best of times and 352 provides a convenient link for me getting off one bus onto another at Eldon Squareand Haymarket.   If it's first run was 5 minutes later, it would be ideal for my morning commute without me having to dash.

Services 37 and 38 operate from John Dobson Street near the City Baths and don't have that convenience.

Strangely enough, yesterday (10/02/25) I saw a 352 and it had a decent load of passengers on it, my 354 on the other hand (both there and back) was empty