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Go North East: Service Suggestions v2

Go North East: Service Suggestions v2

RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
(07 Oct 2025, 7:30 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote I've had a little think about it and to make it easier I will talk about current services...

306 - leave it alone in terms of route  (except force it to visit North Shields HUB/Metro station/Interchange) 

307 Haymarket to North Shields - limited stop  Newcastle Haymarket - 5 Swans - Civic Centre Direct to Corner House (connections for pub and Freeman football etc - chilli road stop (for chilli connections then direct to Station Road stop on ramp approach  remove the wills building stop to create a fast approach then all stops like the 306   through battlehill to jolly bowman pub  (307 - does not serve Mullen Road Loop or Hadrian Park ) 

307 then turns right at jolly Bowman  left onto Coast Road off at Silverlink up past McDonald's  but turns Right to behind the cinema and use the direct Road through the Tyne Tunnel trading estate to the bottom (providing job opportunities and a connection from Newcastle and residents nearby)  turn left  then left again and drive up past the Percy Main depot then right onto verne road to North Shields HUB 

A little different route but creates a little mix and the service is still covered by bus services nearby.

308 - create the Same Express route but to go via Battlehill Drive all stops in both directions and not the Coast Road stops (passengers often walk from coast road to battlehill drive and and users needing to use the subway they are used to it to access amenities so it's a very little impact as users use battlehill shops services anyway

309 Same idea as above omit going via Mullen Road to save time too

Now as Hadrian Park and and Mullen Road are bus less (ish ) 

340 -341 would operate a new service 

340 Wallsend up Wiltshire Drive  Mullen Road Battlehill Drive  Hadrian Park back out loop around the roundabout at BNQ to serve the bingo and Wallsend pub (future development here so locals will use the service) then down onto Coast Road and up silverlink into Cobalt and to Northumberland Park

341  Operates Newcastle Haymarket  to Chicken Road observing all stops  creating it a "slower service"  and hitting Wiltshire Drive  and Mullen Road  to Northumberland Park. 

350 351 is removed.

342 from Wallsend  will operate via Wiltshire drive  and run around holystone to provide a link.

351 if anything operates from Holystone to Northumberland park  hourly and ( 342 already providing a link too) 


There is no loss for the 350 or 351 being curtailed. 

For example the last bus leaves at Haymarket at 2325 but so does the 308 leaves the next stand at 2325 so they follow each other 

Creating express style routes will benefit the later passengers wanting a 20min plus journey 

Chilli road going into town is to be used as the traffic is usually up to the chilli road up ramp so up and down into a bus lane is a gain to save time 

It also has the potential to not need 22X or X39 

Additional links to Tyne Tunnel trading Estate Northumberland Park and faster Coast Road journey times
The bus network in North Tyneside has been a complete mess since 2010. i would bring back an express bus from Whitley Bay via Marden Estate and onto the 308 route at the Foxhunters then fast from Billy Mill to Haymarket stopping only at Willington Square.  The 306 would be withdrawn between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay replaced by a new local service to Cobalt from North Shields via Tynemouth, Marden and New York.
RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
(08 Oct 2025, 9:47 am)ian foster wrote The bus network in North Tyneside has been a complete mess since 2010. i would bring back an express bus from Whitley Bay via Marden Estate and onto the 308 route at the Foxhunters then fast from Billy Mill to Haymarket stopping only at Willington Square.  The 306 would be withdrawn between Tynemouth and Whitley Bay replaced by a new local service to Cobalt from North Shields via Tynemouth, Marden and New York.

I think the billy mill express is to large and potentially means it could run on a Single deck or mini as it would miss key points. 

my suggestion caters for regular leisure users  people wanting to visit cinema shopping etc...  a mix of work users throughout the day and night and other links 

believe it or not adding Mullen road into a route increases journey times by 4 mins only but adds about 8-10 stops but in your head it feels longer 

I know that on Battlehill Drive if a 306 or 307 turns up the 306 is chosen for the psychological service of it being loads quicker 

You need to remember to operate a single bus it costs at least £40 per hour
RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
(08 Oct 2025, 10:34 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote believe it or not adding Mullen road into a route increases journey times by 4 mins only but adds about 8-10 stops but in your head it feels longer 
Not if it's already running 5 minutes late as a result of traffic at the Coast.....then gets hammered at Noble's on Mullen Road.

When the 309 ran via Selby Gardens......drivers could 'safely' (or maybe not unknown to us haha) make up time and arrive into Haymarket on time even if losing a bit time earlier en-route.

Since the 309 was re-routed, the timekeeping has not been as solid IMO. Thankfully, the 309 is keeping the B9TLs as I doubt StreetDecks could keep to time on a PVR of 8x.
RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
(08 Oct 2025, 10:34 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote I think the billy mill express is to large and potentially means it could run on a Single deck or mini as it would miss key points. 

my suggestion caters for regular leisure users  people wanting to visit cinema shopping etc...  a mix of work users throughout the day and night and other links 

believe it or not adding Mullen road into a route increases journey times by 4 mins only but adds about 8-10 stops but in your head it feels longer 

I know that on Battlehill Drive if a 306 or 307 turns up the 306 is chosen for the psychological service of it being loads quicker 

You need to remember to operate a single bus it costs at least £40 per hour

there is already more than enough buses through Battle Hill so why put any more in. there are plenty of people east of it who want a quick bus to Newcastle which they haven't had since the 44 was foolishly withdrawn back in 2010
RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
(08 Oct 2025, 10:34 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote I think the billy mill express is to large and potentially means it could run on a Single deck or mini as it would miss key points. 

my suggestion caters for regular leisure users  people wanting to visit cinema shopping etc...  a mix of work users throughout the day and night and other links 

believe it or not adding Mullen road into a route increases journey times by 4 mins only but adds about 8-10 stops but in your head it feels longer 

I know that on Battlehill Drive if a 306 or 307 turns up the 306 is chosen for the psychological service of it being loads quicker 

You need to remember to operate a single bus it costs at least £40 per hour

Quite a long time 4 minutes, when it's only 15-20 minutes in a car though for the full journey.

Btw I keep seeing stuff about express buses (me included) but maybe another option would be infrastructure upgrades instead and do something like:


Along by Selby Gardens so the buses never have to leave the Coast Road, at all, with both sides of the road down to one direction at their respective side (there's enough ways round for those who live in the section) while omitting Benfield Road and the Chillingham Road junctions so beyond Tyne Met they can bomb straight to Newcastle without any traffic lights / roundabouts which slow them down, with the whole hatched part of the road turned into a new bus lane. 

It means you could have a 'fast' 306/308 via the Coast Road direct and a slow 307/309 via High Farm and Battle Hill.

The time savings for an express bus would then be neglible really and it utilises part of the Coast Road which is effectively unused currently. You could probably do similar at the Tyne Met junction aswell, if you wanted to skip that roundabout aswell (Here: https://www.google.com/maps/@55.006728,-...?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTAwNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D)
RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
(09 Oct 2025, 5:54 am)L469 YVK wrote Not if it's already running 5 minutes late as a result of traffic at the Coast.....then gets hammered at Noble's on Mullen Road.

When the 309 ran via Selby Gardens......drivers could 'safely' (or maybe not unknown to us haha) make up time and arrive into Haymarket on time even if losing a bit time earlier en-route.

Since the 309 was re-routed, the timekeeping has not been as solid IMO. Thankfully, the 309 is keeping the B9TLs as I doubt StreetDecks could keep to time on a PVR of 8x.

Previously i thought the 311 was pointless, but i see it now that it was actually quite useful, so was the 57 and it predecessor (the 58)
Kind Regards
Tez
RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
(06 Oct 2025, 7:35 pm)Storx wrote Even known it's an interesting idea, I'm not really sure it's needed.

Like just picking out routes you could easily do something like

43: X73 Route, but flip it with the 6 between Tantobie Crossroads and the Pack Horse giving Burnopfield a much faster route to Metrocentre / Newcastle (Every 30 Minutes, Hourly Evenings / Sunday)
44: Current 6 route, again flip it with the X73 between Tantobie Crossroads and the Pack Horse giving Stanley a faster Metrocentre link (Hourly All Day / Sunday)
44A: Same route as above, but via Hobson rather than Tanfield (Hourly Daytimes)

X30: Via Gateshead, otherwise no changes (Hourly Daytime)
X31: Via Gateshead, otherwise no changes (Hourly Daytime)
X32: Withdrawn
X70: Run direct between Dipton and Burnopfield, otherwise no changes (Hourly Daytime)
X71: Via Gateshead, otherwise no changes (Hourly Daytimes, Every 2 Hours Evening / Sunday)
X72: Withdrawn, replaced by 43/44
X73: Withdrawn, replaced by 43/44 

X40: Consett - Leadgate - Non Stop - Annfield Plain - Stanley - Non Stop - Sunniside - Lobley Hill - Non Stop (via A184) - Newcastle (Hourly All Day / Sunday) - Map of route

X301: Newcastle to Whickham via X30/X31/X71 route then do the 301 loop round Whickham (Every 20 Minutes, Hourly Evenings/Sunday)

It's not a million miles away from where things are now but the main towns would get the new X40 giving the fastest links between them and Newcastle with the main towns of Stanley and Consett supplemented with the X30/X31/X70/X71. 

All the villages are then covered by the new 43/44 which is basically just the 6/X73 anyway and everywhere has an evening service with the same route as their daily service which isn't the case right now.

Your ideas are pretty good. I'm not sure the X40 could sustain an 'all day' operation although could run at peak times and maybe take advantage of CentreLink. I'd also be tempted to look at putting Medomsley into the 45 corridor. 


Express services:

X30 - Every 30 mins Mon-Sat daytime | Evenings & Sunday daytime every 60 mins 

Consett - Leadgate - Dipton - Burnopfield - Sunniside - Team Valley North - Gateshead - Newcastle

Note: X30 is basically a re-numbered X70 to keep in-line with the X31 & X32 below


X31 - Hourly Mon-Sat all day & Sunday daytime

**Stanley - Shield Row - Sunniside - Lobley Hill Estate - Team Valley North - Gateshead - Newcastle
** 2 hourly Sunday extension to Lanchester via X32 route below after Stanley


X32 - Hourly Mon-Sat daytime

Lanchester - Maiden Law - Burnhope -  Quaking Houses & South Moor - Stanley - East Stanley - Sunniside - Team Valley North - Gateshead - Newcastle


X44 - Every 20 mins Mon-Sat daytime | Hourly evenings & Sundays - Basically the X301 suggestion but less of a 'mouthful' of a number

Newcastle - Central Station - Teams A184 - Dunston - Whickham Front Street - Fellside Park - Broadway - Whickham Front Street then back to Newcastle


Other services:

43 - Every 30 mins Mon-Sat daytime | Hourly evenings & Sundays

Stanley - New Kyo - Annfield Plain - Catchgate - Harelaw - Dipton - Tantobie - Burnopfield - Fellside Road - MetroCentre - Teams & Askew Road West - Newcastle


44 - Hourly all day daily

Stanley - Tanfield Lea - Tantobie - Tanfield - Crookgate Bank - Sunniside Kingsway - Broadway - Broom Lane - Watergate Crescent - Whickham Front Street - MetroCentre - Teams & Askew Road West - Newcastle


44A - Every 60 mins Mon-Sat daytime

Stanley - Tanfield Lea - Tantobie - Hobson - Sunniside Kingsway - Broadway - Broom Lane - Watergate Crescent - Whickham Front Street - MetroCentre - Teams & Askew Road West - Newcastle


45 - Every 30 mins Mon-Sat daytime | Hourly evenings & Sundays

Same as X45 and still limited stop MetroCentre to Newcastle


46 - Every 30 mins Mon-Sat daytime | Hourly Mon-Sat evenings & Sunday daytime

Consett - Leadgate - Medomsley - Hamsterley Mill then as 45 to Newcastle


47 - Same as now but Consett to Blackhall Mill reduced to hourly during Mon-Sat daytime


Note that the 43, 44, 44A would run double back via Tyne Street and Centrelink during AM peaks.


Not a great deal of difference other than the X40, and also the X30 & X31 running more frequent during evenings & Sundays.

Also, if the 45/46/47 was re-introduced to a 10 minute frequency Rowlands Gill to Newcastle - is there a need for so many deckers including on the X30's? A batch of new B8RLE's mixed in with some of the existing E400MMC would be perfect for all of the above.....offering the right capacity and frequency with a reliable allocation. Not forgetting that the B8RLE is actually quite a good performer on the fuel considering it's more heavy-duty than a StreetLite/E200MMC. Worst case if growth comes and more deckers are needed, hoy the B8RLEs on the 8/78.
RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
(11 Oct 2025, 8:38 am)L469 YVK wrote Your ideas are pretty good. I'm not sure the X40 could sustain an 'all day' operation although could run at peak times and maybe take advantage of CentreLink. I'd also be tempted to look at putting Medomsley into the 45 corridor. 


Express services:

X30 - Every 30 mins Mon-Sat daytime | Evenings & Sunday daytime every 60 mins 

Consett - Leadgate - Dipton - Burnopfield - Sunniside - Team Valley North - Gateshead - Newcastle

Note: X30 is basically a re-numbered X70 to keep in-line with the X31 & X32 below


X31 - Hourly Mon-Sat all day & Sunday daytime

**Stanley - Shield Row - Sunniside - Lobley Hill Estate - Team Valley North - Gateshead - Newcastle
** 2 hourly Sunday extension to Lanchester via X32 route below after Stanley


X32 - Hourly Mon-Sat daytime

Lanchester - Maiden Law - Burnhope -  Quaking Houses & South Moor - Stanley - East Stanley - Sunniside - Team Valley North - Gateshead - Newcastle


X44 - Every 20 mins Mon-Sat daytime | Hourly evenings & Sundays - Basically the X301 suggestion but less of a 'mouthful' of a number

Newcastle - Central Station - Teams A184 - Dunston - Whickham Front Street - Fellside Park - Broadway - Whickham Front Street then back to Newcastle


Other services:

43 - Every 30 mins Mon-Sat daytime | Hourly evenings & Sundays

Stanley - New Kyo - Annfield Plain - Catchgate - Harelaw - Dipton - Tantobie - Burnopfield - Fellside Road - MetroCentre - Teams & Askew Road West - Newcastle


44 - Hourly all day daily

Stanley - Tanfield Lea - Tantobie - Tanfield - Crookgate Bank - Sunniside Kingsway - Broadway - Broom Lane - Watergate Crescent - Whickham Front Street - MetroCentre - Teams & Askew Road West - Newcastle


44A - Every 60 mins Mon-Sat daytime

Stanley - Tanfield Lea - Tantobie - Hobson - Sunniside Kingsway - Broadway - Broom Lane - Watergate Crescent - Whickham Front Street - MetroCentre - Teams & Askew Road West - Newcastle


45 - Every 30 mins Mon-Sat daytime | Hourly evenings & Sundays

Same as X45 and still limited stop MetroCentre to Newcastle


46 - Every 30 mins Mon-Sat daytime | Hourly Mon-Sat evenings & Sunday daytime

Consett - Leadgate - Medomsley - Hamsterley Mill then as 45 to Newcastle


47 - Same as now but Consett to Blackhall Mill reduced to hourly during Mon-Sat daytime


Note that the 43, 44, 44A would run double back via Tyne Street and Centrelink during AM peaks.


Not a great deal of difference other than the X40, and also the X30 & X31 running more frequent during evenings & Sundays.

Also, if the 45/46/47 was re-introduced to a 10 minute frequency Rowlands Gill to Newcastle - is there a need for so many deckers including on the X30's? A batch of new B8RLE's mixed in with some of the existing E400MMC would be perfect for all of the above.....offering the right capacity and frequency with a reliable allocation. Not forgetting that the B8RLE is actually quite a good performer on the fuel considering it's more heavy-duty than a StreetLite/E200MMC. Worst case if growth comes and more deckers are needed, hoy the B8RLEs on the 8/78.

Interesting ideas but quite a big PVR increase there.

Personally if I was going back up to the 6 buses through Rowlands Gill, I'd redo the whole Western side so it's something like:


which would end up with:
45: Red (Every 30 Minutes, Hourly Evenings / Sundays)
46: Orange (Every 30 Minutes, Hourly Evenings / Sundays)
47: Purple (Every Hour All Day / Sunday)
47A: Pink (Every Hour Daytimes)
V5: Withdrawn
X70: No Changes (Every 30 Minutes Daytimes)
X71: Withdrawn

It gives most places a decent bus service during day, at least 30 minutes bar the pots of houses here and there, and everyone an hourly service in the evening with those in the Blackhill area not having to go on a magical mystery tour with journey times which are pretty unacceptable right now really. 

It's technically no extra buses between Meadomsley / Ebchester and Consett either since it's utilising the existing V5 and X71.
RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
I'd also throw in a 48 which would essentially be the 47 and 49, might create some potentially useful links
48 would also be hourly creating a 20/20/20 split between the 47/47A/48
Kind Regards
Tez
RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
(11 Oct 2025, 11:18 am)Storx wrote Interesting ideas but quite a big PVR increase there.

Personally if I was going back up to the 6 buses through Rowlands Gill, I'd redo the whole Western side so it's something like:


which would end up with:
45: Red (Every 30 Minutes, Hourly Evenings / Sundays)
46: Orange (Every 30 Minutes, Hourly Evenings / Sundays)
47: Purple (Every Hour All Day / Sunday)
47A: Pink (Every Hour Daytimes)
V5: Withdrawn
X70: No Changes (Every 30 Minutes Daytimes)
X71: Withdrawn

It gives most places a decent bus service during day, at least 30 minutes bar the pots of houses here and there, and everyone an hourly service in the evening with those in the Blackhill area not having to go on a magical mystery tour with journey times which are pretty unacceptable right now really. 

It's technically no extra buses between Meadomsley / Ebchester and Consett either since it's utilising the existing V5 and X71.
I actually like that! Only question though.....can a full size single / double decker serve The Dene? I recall GNE had issues during covid serving the Dene when tagged onto the X71 route unless it was maybe a different issue.
RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
(Yesterday, 7:30 am)L469 YVK wrote I actually like that! Only question though.....can a full size single / double decker serve The Dene? I recall GNE had issues during covid serving the Dene when tagged onto the X71 route unless it was maybe a different issue.

Doesn't seem to be an issue with deckers tbh, they seem to be on the V5 most days now anyway. 

Saloons might be an issue though, with the extra length but I'm not sure tbh.

Edit: Appears they can aswell, see: https://bustimes.org/services/v5-crookha...2025-10-06
RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
(Yesterday, 7:44 am)Storx wrote Doesn't seem to be an issue with deckers tbh, they seem to be on the V5 most days now anyway. 

Saloons might be an issue though, with the extra length but I'm not sure tbh.

Edit: Appears they can aswell, see: https://bustimes.org/services/v5-crookha...2025-10-06

And it looks like B9TLs can too Smile !

I really do like your Derwentside ideas! Looking at the current vs estimate PVR's on the Derwentside to Newcastle services:

2025 - 29

2022 - 25

2021 - 32

2019 (incl the M6/7/8) - 34

These suggestions including the Whickham express based on a rough estimate would come in at 38. However, the quality of service and offering to passengers would dramatically improve. The new links created by the 46, 47 & 47A could potentially qualify for BSIP funding too.

If passengers have a simple, easy to use and easy to market network to rely on without the gimmicks or a myriad of meaningless route numbers going on a mystery tour, they will use the services.
RE: Go North East: Service Suggestions v2
(Yesterday, 5:03 pm)L469 YVK wrote And it looks like B9TLs can too Smile !

I really do like your Derwentside ideas! Looking at the current vs estimate PVR's on the Derwentside to Newcastle services:

2025 - 29

2022 - 25

2021 - 32

2019 (incl the M6/7/8) - 34

These suggestions including the Whickham express based on a rough estimate would come in at 38. However, the quality of service and offering to passengers would dramatically improve. The new links created by the 46, 47 & 47A could potentially qualify for BSIP funding too.

If passengers have a simple, easy to use and easy to market network to rely on without the gimmicks or a myriad of meaningless route numbers going on a mystery tour, they will use the services.

Yeah and if you wanted to save a few buses you could probably cut the 97(301) back to Gateshead and drop it down to every 30 minutes interworking with the 96. 

The X97, let's call it will do the Newcastle links now so it's not really needed, bar a very few bus stops near Dunston Hill but their in walking distance of the X97/Lobley Hill anyway. 

What happens with the 301 is open, maybe merge it with the 93/94 somehow so there's no loss in the Bensham area.and open direct Newcastle to Team Valley links?