Newcastle to Sunderland via Follingsby Park/Nissan and Washington Villages.

X58 - Newcastle, Gateshead (Non-Stop),  Heworth (Non-Stop), Follingsby/Nissan (Non-Stop),Washington Galleries (Non-Stop), Shiney Row, Penshaw, Pennywell, Royal Hospital, University, Sunderland

58 - Newcastle - Gateshead, Felling Square, Windy Nook, Whitehills Estate, Leam Lane Estate, Heworth Metro, Follingsby Amazon, Nissan UK, Non-Stop to Concord, Donwell, B&Q, Blackfell, Oxclose, Washington Galleries, Biddick, Fatfield, Barnwell, Shiney Row, Penshaw, Pennywell, Royal Hospital, University, Sunderland

58A - Newcastle - Gateshead, Felling Square, Windy Nook, Whitehills Estate, Leam Lane Estate, Heworth Metro, Follingsby Amazon, Nissan UK, Non-Stop to Concord, Barmston, Washington Village, Glebe, Washington Galleries, Lambton, Harraton, Fatfield, Barnwell, Shiney Row, Penshaw, Pennywell, Royal Hospital, University, Sunderland

• Services 2/2A/58/X58/84 & 85 Merged to provide New Cross City/Local Connections.
  
• Newcastle, Gateshead, Washington and Sunderland Business/Leisure Linked Together.
  
• Services 2/3 Operate Every 10 Minutes Combined Monday To Saturday, Every 30 Minutes On A Sunday (Full Route) With an Hourly Service as far as Concord.
  
• Express X2 Operates (Peak Times Only).
  

(08 Jun 2025, 8:59 pm)Malarkey wrote Newcastle to Sunderland via Follingsby Park/Nissan and Washington Villages.

X58 - Newcastle, Gateshead (Non-Stop),  Heworth (Non-Stop), Follingsby/Nissan (Non-Stop),Washington Galleries (Non-Stop), Shiney Row, Penshaw, Pennywell, Royal Hospital, University, Sunderland

58 - Newcastle - Gateshead, Felling Square, Windy Nook, Whitehills Estate, Leam Lane Estate, Heworth Metro, Follingsby Amazon, Nissan UK, Non-Stop to Concord, Donwell, B&Q, Blackfell, Oxclose, Washington Galleries, Biddick, Fatfield, Barnwell, Shiney Row, Penshaw, Pennywell, Royal Hospital, University, Sunderland

58A - Newcastle - Gateshead, Felling Square, Windy Nook, Whitehills Estate, Leam Lane Estate, Heworth Metro, Follingsby Amazon, Nissan UK, Non-Stop to Concord, Barmston, Washington Village, Glebe, Washington Galleries, Lambton, Harraton, Fatfield, Barnwell, Shiney Row, Penshaw, Pennywell, Royal Hospital, University, Sunderland

• Services 2/2A/58/X58/84 & 85 Merged to provide New Cross City/Local Connections.
  
• Newcastle, Gateshead, Washington and Sunderland Business/Leisure Linked Together.
  
• Services 2/3 Operate Every 10 Minutes Combined Monday To Saturday, Every 30 Minutes On A Sunday (Full Route) With an Hourly Service as far as Concord.
  
• Express X2 Operates (Peak Times Only).
  

Yes its been far too long without a Malarkey Marathon

(10 Jun 2025, 1:53 pm)V514DFT wrote Yes its been far too long without a Malarkey Marathon

Malarkey Marathon = Long Term Sustainability and Growth of Services for all  

Hey if you were MD at GNE, I wouldn't be sad about it

340 / 341 service...
At present they Operate Wallsend - Hadrian park.

What about extending one Service

340 Wallsend - Wiltshire Drive _ Mullen Road - BattleHill Drive - Hadrian Park loop and then when coming out of Hadrian Park straight over the roundabout and left onto the coast Road and off at Silverlink and stop at Mcdonalds /Next (where 22 stops) and continue up through Silverlink and Cobalt then towards Northumberland Park Bus Hub.

This then creates a safer and easier link for Teens etc to the cinema as oppose to walking to middle engine lane

creates a link from Wiltshire Drive to Cobalt and Wallsend as well as Hadrian Park

creates a link from Northumberland Park to Wallsend Metro station

link to Ashington line

The 341 still runs between Hadrian Park and Wallsend to create the 15min link

24: Newcastle, Gateshead, Low Fell, Harolw Green, Wrekenton, Eighton Banks, The Galleries, Oxclose, Crowther, Ayton, Chester-Le-Street, Waldridge Park  (Every 20 Mins)
24A:  Newcastle, Gateshead, Q.E Hospital, Wrekenton, Springwell Estate, Springwell Village, The Galleries, Washington Village, Barmston Court, Teal Farm, Cherry Blossom Way, Sulgrave, Concord  (Every 20 MIns)

Pros:
The 702D would be replaced and increased to 3bph
Increased services to The Galleries from Ayton, Crowther, Oxclose. Concord, Sulgrave, Cherry Blossom Way, Waterview Park, Teal Farm, Barmston Court & Washington Village
New Links from Springwell Estate, Waverley Road, Allerdene & Low Fell to Washington
Direct buses from Springwell Estate to Q.E Hospital & Newcastle.
More Buses between Newcastle/Gateshead/Low Fell/Harlow Green/Wrekenton
Only an Extra 5/6 Minutes Compared with X1  (Washington to Newcastle)

Cons:
Would have to reverse a DD in Gibside (Waldridge Park)
Some Journeys may get low usage.
Evenings/Sunday frequencies may be complicated
May be confusing for Ayton Passengers with buses to the Galleries & CLS from both sides of the road.

(12 Jun 2025, 8:17 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote 24: Newcastle, Gateshead, Low Fell, Harolw Green, Wrekenton, Eighton Banks, The Galleries, Oxclose, Crowther, Ayton, Chester-Le-Street, Waldridge Park  (Every 20 Mins)
24A:  Newcastle, Gateshead, Q.E Hospital, Wrekenton, Springwell Estate, Springwell Village, The Galleries, Washington Village, Barmston Court, Teal Farm, Cherry Blossom Way, Sulgrave, Concord  (Every 20 MIns)

Pros:
The 702D would be replaced and increased to 3bph
Increased services to The Galleries from Ayton, Crowther, Oxclose. Concord, Sulgrave, Cherry Blossom Way, Waterview Park, Teal Farm, Barmston Court & Washington Village
New Links from Springwell Estate, Waverley Road, Allerdene & Low Fell to Washington
Direct buses from Springwell Estate to Q.E Hospital & Newcastle.
More Buses between Newcastle/Gateshead/Low Fell/Harlow Green/Wrekenton
Only an Extra 5/6 Minutes Compared with X1  (Washington to Newcastle)

Cons:
Would have to reverse a DD in Gibside (Waldridge Park)
Some Journeys may get low usage.
Evenings/Sunday frequencies may be complicated
May be confusing for Ayton Passengers with buses to the Galleries & CLS from both sides of the road.

Could be the 22/22A, the change the current 22 to 23

The 8. 

Send it up via Barmston underneath the Leamside line, rather than have it go from the A1231 to Teal Farm and then back to the A1231.

Between the Galleriee and Barmston, it could head through the Village or could pick up the current route between the Galleriee and Peel via the A1231.
I can't see it taking any longer than the current route, but certainly opens up new connections.

(12 Jun 2025, 1:27 pm)V514DFT wrote Hey if you were MD at GNE, I wouldn't be sad about it

Tried getting into GNE on several occasions in the past and they weren't interested, quite quick to nab some "Malarkey Marathons" off me on here though the little shitlers 

Personally in the state that company is in now I wouldn't want to work for them and I am happy working where I am currently, money is good and have perks of Free Rail Staff Travel for the TOC I work for and 50% off tickets on the others across the country which always comes in handy.

(16 Jun 2025, 8:44 pm)Malarkey wrote Tried getting into GNE on several occasions in the past and they weren't interested, quite quick to nab some "Malarkey Marathons" off me on here though the little shitlers 

Personally in the state that company is in now I wouldn't want to work for them and I am happy working where I am currently, money is good and have perks of Free Rail Staff Travel for the TOC I work for and 50% off tickets on the others across the country which always comes in handy.

Just need a bit more bacon in your sarnie and all will be good eh 

I would like to see the 57 increased to 4bph or an express 57 added alongside 

The X57 towards Wardley would be:
Newgate Street
High Level Bridge North
Gateshead Interchange
High West Street - The Gloucester
Old Durham Road - The Plough
Q.E Hospital (Travellers Rest)
Beacon Lough Shops
then all stops to Wardley Bus Terminus (via Whitehills Estate, Staneway, Fewster Square, Mitford, Meresyde & Sunderland Road)

The X57 towards Newcastle would be:
All stops From Wardley Bus Terminus to Beacon Lough Shops
then Q.E Hospital (Ambulance Station)
Old Durham Road - Valley Drive
High West Street - Civic Centre
Gateshead Interchange
Monunment Piilgrim Street
Newgate Street

It can be done with a PVR of 3 (I would use a Mini or Midibus)

(12 Jun 2025, 8:17 pm)ASX_Terranova wrote 24: Newcastle, Gateshead, Low Fell, Harolw Green, Wrekenton, Eighton Banks, The Galleries, Oxclose, Crowther, Ayton, Chester-Le-Street, Waldridge Park  (Every 20 Mins)
24A:  Newcastle, Gateshead, Q.E Hospital, Wrekenton, Springwell Estate, Springwell Village, The Galleries, Washington Village, Barmston Court, Teal Farm, Cherry Blossom Way, Sulgrave, Concord  (Every 20 MIns)

Pros:
The 702D would be replaced and increased to 3bph
Increased services to The Galleries from Ayton, Crowther, Oxclose. Concord, Sulgrave, Cherry Blossom Way, Waterview Park, Teal Farm, Barmston Court & Washington Village
New Links from Springwell Estate, Waverley Road, Allerdene & Low Fell to Washington
Direct buses from Springwell Estate to Q.E Hospital & Newcastle.
More Buses between Newcastle/Gateshead/Low Fell/Harlow Green/Wrekenton
Only an Extra 5/6 Minutes Compared with X1  (Washington to Newcastle)

Cons:
Would have to reverse a DD in Gibside (Waldridge Park)
Some Journeys may get low usage.
Evenings/Sunday frequencies may be complicated
May be confusing for Ayton Passengers with buses to the Galleries & CLS from both sides of the road.

I don't see the benefit of this, I'm afraid. You're linking up places, yes, but you're linking up places that people are very unlikely to travel between. The Wrekenton to Newcastle section (via Low Fell) is already covered by a 22. It also provides a faster link between Wrekenton and Chester-le-Street, which I don't believe are two places that people heavily travel between anyway?

The 50 already provides enough of a route around Washington before Chester-le-Street, for anyone with a real desire to lose the will to live, so I don't think this adds anything better to that. The Galleries/Oxclose/Crowther and Ayton should be covered by a local service.

The 24A just seems to be an excessively longer version of the 50, at least as far as Concord? Again, that Village/Barmston Court/Cherry Blossom Way bit should be covered by a local service. 

(13 Jun 2025, 8:01 pm)Andreos1 wrote The 8. 

Send it up via Barmston underneath the Leamside line, rather than have it go from the A1231 to Teal Farm and then back to the A1231.

Between the Galleriee and Barmston, it could head through the Village or could pick up the current route between the Galleriee and Peel via the A1231.
I can't see it taking any longer than the current route, but certainly opens up new connections.

If you're thinking the underpass at the bottom of Barmston Court, it's approach is pretty unsuitable due to poor planning from one side, and the commercial side being a bit of a nightmare for parked cars. 

The better option would be via Pattinson Road, right and round the Village imo.

Extend the 62 to Doxford park from Hollycarrside on Sunday evening after 9pm
Since the 2 and 39s were axed Pennywell has gained far too many buses and ryhope and Doxford lost out

still think superloop circulars are better for an evening especially like the old 139 140 understandably change the route but make sure it hits key infrastructure points like Metro stations hospitals Doxford International pubs hit where there is employment passing as many care homes etc even work through the night possibly

(28 Jun 2025, 9:50 pm)Malarkey wrote Looks like Lobley Hill Estate (South) won the argument with GNE as they were essentially cutting a direct service from the estate to Newcastle as the proposed Hourly 95 which was terminating at Gateshead.

Personally I would suggested extending the proposed 95 and existing service 96 from Gateshead into Newcastle (Market Street) as a reasonable replacement with the X32 being more of direct express along the A692 (Lobley Hill Road) and would've also provided an improved service from Lobley Hill Road to Newcastle with a Bus at a combined frequency of Every 10 Minutes if you included the "Coaster 1 (301)".

GNE could've also have done a service serving both North/South sides of Lobley Hill Estate:

95 - Newcastle (Market Street) - Gateshead Interchange - Bensham Court Flats - Team Valley Maingate - Lobley Hill (Beechword Gardens) - Lobley Hill (Romanwood Gardens) - Lobley Hill (Rothbury/Meldon Gardens) - Lobley Hill (Gragside Gardens) - Lobley Hill (Malvern Gardens) - Lobley Hill (Moorfoot Gardens) - Lobley Hill (Chiltern Gardens) - Team Valley Maingate - Bensham Court Flats - Gateshead Interchange - Newcastle (Market Street)

Replying here as it's the right place, personally I'd do the opposite and split the 301/97 again and merge the 96/X32 into it so you'd end up with a network something like this:


6: Newcastle to Stanley, additionally serving Laburnum Drive (Every 30 Minutes)
96: Gateshead to Metrocentre (Every 30 Minutes)
97: Gateshead (only) to Metrocentre additionally serving Lobley Hill (Every 30 Minutes)
X97: Newcastle to Whickham Loop via Dunston Hill (Every 30 Minutes)

X30/X31/X70/X71: All via Lobley Hill serving all stops until Saltwell Road
X32: Omit Lobley Hill and join A1 at Team Valley and give a true express from Stanley to Newcastle (Hourly)

96/97: Every 15 minutes combined

There's more than enough buses crossing the water from Gateshead to Newcastle, we don't need more. What you do with the 301, is open and it sorts the mess of the X30/X31/X32/X70/X71/X72 all going different ways and being generally quite confusing.

(28 Jun 2025, 11:12 pm)Storx wrote Replying here as it's the right place, personally I'd do the opposite and split the 301/97 again and merge the 96/X32 into it so you'd end up with a network something like this:


6: Newcastle to Stanley, additionally serving Laburnum Drive (Every 30 Minutes)
96: Gateshead to Metrocentre (Every 30 Minutes)
97: Gateshead (only) to Metrocentre additionally serving Lobley Hill (Every 30 Minutes)
X97: Newcastle to Whickham Loop via Dunston Hill (Every 30 Minutes)

X30/X31/X70/X71: All via Lobley Hill serving all stops until Saltwell Road
X32: Omit Lobley Hill and join A1 at Team Valley and give a true express from Stanley to Newcastle (Hourly)

96/97: Every 15 minutes combined

There's more than enough buses crossing the water from Gateshead to Newcastle, we don't need more. What you do with the 301, is open and it sorts the mess of the X30/X31/X32/X70/X71/X72 all going different ways and being generally quite confusing.

But still absolutely nothing from Whickham or Sunniside along the Scots wood Road and the various employers along there.

Sick of sounding like a broken record, but operators need to think differently and not just adapt or tweak the existing network that existed since the year dot.
Sending a bus left or right at a junction and replacing it (or even not) shouldn't be the important factor here. 

It's surely about looking at what isn't connected and opening up those new opportunities.

(28 Jun 2025, 11:23 pm)Andreos1 wrote But still absolutely nothing from Whickham or Sunniside along the Scots wood Road and the various employers along there.

Sick of sounding like a broken record, but operators need to think differently and not just adapt or tweak the existing network that existed since the year dot.
Sending a bus left or right at a junction and replacing it (or even not) shouldn't be the important factor here. 

It's surely about looking at what isn't connected and opening up those new opportunities.

Aye no arguments there, the 643 would be a good route for that since it serves both those places, arguably more useful than the 301... sorry 644 route which is coming which literally duplicates the 301/6 - what the hell the purpose of it is a complete mystery to me. Obviously it would have to run a bit earlier and later though.

Was more just about tidying up the 301/96 duplication and X30/X31/X70/X71 mess as I'm sure places like Meadomsley etc would like a bus to Gateshead rather than Whickham and Stanley would like a bus there in the evening and on a Sunday (Whickham is covered by the 6).

(28 Jun 2025, 11:31 pm)Storx wrote Aye no arguments there, the 643 would be a good route for that since it serves both those places, arguably more useful than the 301... sorry 644 route which is coming which literally duplicates the 301/6 - what the hell the purpose of it is a complete mystery to me. Obviously it would have to run a bit earlier and later though.

Was more just about tidying up the 301/96 duplication and X30/X31/X70/X71 mess as I'm sure places like Meadomsley etc would like a bus to Gateshead rather than Whickham and Stanley would like a bus there in the evening and on a Sunday (Whickham is covered by the 6).

Potentially looking out of a bedroom window and seeing your employer across the river, but it somehow taking 2 or 3 buses and over an hour vs driving there OR getting a direct bus, which follows the same route as the car would take...

The ideal opportunity for BSIP to be used effectively.

(28 Jun 2025, 11:41 pm)Andreos1 wrote Potentially looking out of a bedroom window and seeing your employer across the river, but it somehow taking 2 or 3 buses and over an hour vs driving there OR getting a direct bus, which follows the same route as the car would take...

The ideal opportunity for BSIP to be used effectively.

Aye can't disagree to be fair, Team Valley in the other direction is the same especially if you could serve the retail park aswell. 

I know some will say people don't want to go there big car park etc but it hasn't stopped the buses at Teesside Park, which is similarish and are absolutely chocker block when they actually bothered to serve it. 

How you do it, is open but agreed it would be good use of BSIP funds.

(28 Jun 2025, 11:41 pm)Andreos1 wrote Potentially looking out of a bedroom window and seeing your employer across the river, but it somehow taking 2 or 3 buses and over an hour vs driving there OR getting a direct bus, which follows the same route as the car would take...

The ideal opportunity for BSIP to be used effectively.

Obvious one for you would be to rejig the 12 as that already serves Scotswood Road

(29 Jun 2025, 9:47 am)V514DFT wrote Obvious one for you would be to rejig the 12 as that already serves Scotswood Road

imo, the best way to sort it - if the North East is being ambitious here for a change, would be a to be a new road/rail bridge to the East of the Metrocentre like this with a new rail station on the North side of the water opening up development around the old heliport site:


If you restricted the bridge to public transport and walking/cycling only you'd open a real advantage to using buses etc and open a much much quicker link between the Metrocentre and Newcastle for both rail and buses giving them a real advantage rather than meandering around Dunston/Teams and then being stuck on the Redheugh Bridge.

Would be a massive game changer imo for public transport and also opens more capacity on the King Edward Bridge which has issues as it is. The Tyne Valley line is horribly slow from the Metrocentre to Newcastle aswell.

It would be good use of infrastructure funds imo. Sunderland is building bridges like there's no tomorrow in recent times so there's money out there.

(29 Jun 2025, 11:08 am)Storx wrote imo, the best way to sort it - if the North East is being ambitious here for a change, would be a to be a new road/rail bridge to the East of the Metrocentre like this with a new rail station on the North side of the water opening up development around the old heliport site:


If you restricted the bridge to public transport and walking/cycling only you'd open a real advantage to using buses etc and open a much much quicker link between the Metrocentre and Newcastle for both rail and buses giving them a real advantage rather than meandering around Dunston/Teams and then being stuck on the Redheugh Bridge.

Would be a massive game changer imo for public transport and also opens more capacity on the King Edward Bridge which has issues as it is. The Tyne Valley line is horribly slow from the Metrocentre to Newcastle aswell.

It would be good use of infrastructure funds imo. Sunderland is building bridges like there's no tomorrow in recent times so there's money out there.

I'm in agreement with this and should form part of the Forth Yard Development.

(28 Jun 2025, 11:41 pm)Andreos1 wrote Potentially looking out of a bedroom window and seeing your employer across the river, but it somehow taking 2 or 3 buses and over an hour vs driving there OR getting a direct bus, which follows the same route as the car would take...

The ideal opportunity for BSIP to be used effectively.

Ferry?

(Yesterday, 9:22 am)Rob44 wrote Ferry?

If it was remodelled so you could turn right off the close on to the swing bridge would this help?

(Yesterday, 10:07 am)ASX_Terranova wrote If it was remodelled so you could turn right off the close on to the swing bridge would this help?

Probably wouldn't help a ferry as they tend to operate on water, not roads.

(Yesterday, 10:20 am)MurdnunoC wrote Probably wouldn't help a ferry as they tend to operate on water, not roads.

There is no way you'd be able to run a ferry, i dont think the water is deep enough. So improve existing road infrastructure is probably better.