(19 Aug 2024, 6:39 am)morritt89 wrote My suggestion would be the old Sunderland to Newcastle X36 via the north estates in Sunderland reintroduced but operated by Stagecoach to fit in with their existing network around those areas. Potentially an X14 or X44.

I dunno about Newcastle, but an extension of the 4 to Boldon and Heworth could be a useful link given how appalling the links are with the Metro to anywhere not called South Hylton.

(22 Aug 2024, 2:59 pm)DeltaMan wrote I dunno about Newcastle, but an extension of the 4 to Boldon and Heworth could be a useful link given how appalling the links are with the Metro to anywhere not called South Hylton.

See, if I was doing an express I'd work with the X58 and do something like this (via Marlborough Road):
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/54.92606...?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDgyMC4xIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

What route is does to Sunderland City Centre someone else can decide, it would be quite unique that it would have peak flows in both directions ie:

Newcastle / Heworth to Follingsby and Nissan
and
North Sunderland / Sunderland to Nissan and Follingsby

The links to both are terrible really, especially Follingsby to Wearside and Nissan to Heworth which don't exist, plus it serves Stephenson Road which is currently busless.

Not sure if my mind is playing tricks but wasn't there once a Stagecoach service that went from Sunderland to Boldon Asda (I'm thinking it was the 5 and it also went to/from Doxford Park Morrisons store entrance inside the car park) however I stand to be corrected.

Heworth to Sunderland by bus would be useful for when there is no Metro, I agree with that.

better bus stops. Hope the people injured are ok

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20rq21z9ywo

(11 Sep 2024, 3:15 pm)Rob44 wrote better bus stops.  Hope the people injured are ok

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20rq21z9ywo

I don’t think these three or four bus stops collapsed on their own.

(11 Sep 2024, 7:28 pm)ne14ne1 wrote I don’t think these three or four bus stops collapsed on their own.

Exactly. It's not better bus stops that are required, it's less careless driving. 

That newer style of shelter is actually significantly better than what Nexus place elsewhere around the region. I don't think it's even been up that long.

(11 Sep 2024, 8:02 pm)Adrian wrote Exactly. It's not better bus stops that are required, it's less careless driving. 

That newer style of shelter is actually significantly better than what Nexus place elsewhere around the region. I don't think it's even been up that long.

In fairness, there probably is some discussion about the bus stops considering that the original ones were there for around 20 year and I can't remember one of them ever being hit to stage it completely fell down without a bus ending up with severe damage.

This is the 4th one of these new ones now that's done it now which seems abnormal. I'm not sure a bus clipping a bus stop should be resulting in the whole thing falling to the ground, the damage sustained there looks like a bus has hit it at 30 mph straight on.

Not excusing the bad driving aswell, of course, but these things happen.

(11 Sep 2024, 9:00 pm)Storx wrote In fairness, there probably is some discussion about the bus stops considering that the original ones were there for around 20 year and I can't remember one of them ever being hit to stage it completely fell down without a bus ending up with severe damage.

This is the 4th one of these new ones now that's done it now which seems abnormal. I'm not sure a bus clipping a bus stop should be resulting in the whole thing falling to the ground, the damage sustained there looks like a bus has hit it at 30 mph straight on.

Clipped it? It's hit it hard enough to take the foundation out, looking at the photo!

It's a rigid structure. It's not designed to take an impact. A lamppost will do the same thing if hit.

(11 Sep 2024, 9:03 pm)Adrian wrote Clipped it? It's hit it hard enough to take the foundation out, looking at the photo!

It's a rigid structure. It's not designed to take an impact. A lamppost will do the same thing if hit.

Aye that's my point, according to Chronicle, it just clipped it according to people standing by, even mentioning it was just a wing mirror (don't believe that though).

Obviously don't want to speculate, but if that's true then, I don't know what's going on with the bus shelter.

Who knows, they seems to buckle these shelters though as I don't believe 6347 got much damage when it wiped the one out on Newgate Street either. Guessing how quick 11167 is back on the road is a good indicator though as I assume that's the vehicle which hit it as it stopped tracking just before 12pm in Newcastle.

There's a video doing the rounds on Facebook which shows a bus at a 45 degree angle next to the collapsed stop. The bus doesn't appear to have any damage (no obvious smashed glass) and the wing mirror (which judging by the angle the bus appears to be at) is attached.

Is the issue flimsy shelters or poor foundations? I wouldn't like to think what would happen if one of the Sunderland shelters with the plants on top collapsed onto people below. I know certain bollards when hit are designed just to bend and flip back up if they are hit. A bus stop pole near my house was hit months ago (metal pole with flag on the top) and it just bent at point of impact (subsequently cut down).

I agree with the careless driving comments above though. Overhangs and projections are one of the first thing talked about when driving a large vehicle (its even part of the theory test).

(12 Sep 2024, 1:59 pm)morritt89 wrote There's a video doing the rounds  on Facebook which shows a bus at a 45 degree angle next to the collapsed stop. The bus doesn't appear to have any damage (no obvious smashed glass) and the wing mirror (which judging by the angle the bus appears to be at) is attached.

Is the issue flimsy shelters or poor foundations? I wouldn't like to think what would happen if one of the Sunderland shelters with the plants on top  collapsed onto people below. I know certain bollards when hit are designed just to bend and flip back up if they are hit. A bus stop pole near my house was hit months ago (metal pole with flag on the top) and it just bent at point of impact (subsequently cut down).

I agree with the careless driving comments above though. Overhangs and projections are one of the first thing talked about when driving a large vehicle (its even part of the theory test).

It's certainly a strange one, just mentioning the bus in the post above there doesn't appear to be anything off road as a result of it.

Wonder if it might be related to the advertising side of the shelter and there being a lack of support and it's actually the roof sliding off which has uprooted the poles rather than the bus directly. If I'm right the one on Newgate Street was similar.

Definitely seems like there's a design flaw somewhere though.

(12 Sep 2024, 1:59 pm)morritt89 wrote There's a video doing the rounds  on Facebook which shows a bus at a 45 degree angle next to the collapsed stop. The bus doesn't appear to have any damage (no obvious smashed glass) and the wing mirror (which judging by the angle the bus appears to be at) is attached.

Is the issue flimsy shelters or poor foundations? I wouldn't like to think what would happen if one of the Sunderland shelters with the plants on top  collapsed onto people below. I know certain bollards when hit are designed just to bend and flip back up if they are hit. A bus stop pole near my house was hit months ago (metal pole with flag on the top) and it just bent at point of impact (subsequently cut down).

I agree with the careless driving comments above though. Overhangs and projections are one of the first thing talked about when driving a large vehicle (its even part of the theory test).

I've seen a video doing the rounds that shows the bus shelter damage in more detail. I'll not share it because it clearly identifies the driver, but I'd say the shelter looks to be approx 200-250mm set into concrete as a foundation. I think most modern street signs will do what you describe now, and part of it is to absorb crash damage. I suppose the same goes for a bus shelter collapsing, rather than standing firm. 

Funnily enough, I used a cross-city Stagecoach service yesterday afternoon, and I'm surprised that more shelters aren't wiped out. Bus was running late and we had a near miss with the bus stop outside of St James' Point.

Thought I'd come up with some suggestions where you can expand on council secured services and in turn provide alternatives where there is also a limited operating train service/connections in some of what I have come up with below. #MalarkeyMarathonCommentPending

North Yorkshire Connect
X70 - Harrogate - Ripon - Thirsk - Northallerton - Darlington via A1 Direct to Durham
29/30/30X - York - Rawcliffe - Skelton - Thirsk - Thornton-Le-Moor - Northallerton - Darlington via A1 Direct to Durham
Expansion of York & Country & Hodgson's Services providing new and improved links across North Yorkshire maintaining existing frequencies as per current timetables.

East-West Coastliner
827/828 - Whitby or Scarborough - Pickering - Helmsley - Thirk - Northerallerton - Hurworth-On-Tees - Darlington - Barnard Castle - Kirkby Stephen - Penrith - Carlisle

North Yorkshire Coastliner
835/836 - Leeds - Harrogate - Ripon - Thirsk - Helmsley - Pickering - Whitby (835) or Scarborough (836)
Using 2 Boards of the existing Harrogate Bus Company 36, 1 Board every 2 hours would extend from Ripon to Whitby or Scarborough providing customers with new links and a direct service to the North Yorkshire Coast.

Cross Pennine
580/581 - Carlisle - Penrith - Shap - Kendel - Kirkby Lonsdale - Settle - Skipton - Harrogate (580) or Leeds (581)
Expansion of Kirkby Lonsdale ops of services 106 (Kendel - Penrith) and 580/581 (Settle or Kirkby Lonsdale to Skipton).
Services would run between hours where there are no Northern Trains providing a service thus offering customers an alternative.

(07 Jan 2026, 5:24 pm)Malarkey wrote Thought I'd come up with some suggestions where you can expand on council secured services and in turn provide alternatives where there is also a limited operating train service/connections in some of what I have come up with below. #MalarkeyMarathonCommentPending

North Yorkshire Connect
X70 - Harrogate - Ripon - Thirsk - Northallerton - Darlington via A1 Direct to Durham
29/30/30X - York - Rawcliffe - Skelton - Thirsk - Thornton-Le-Moor - Northallerton - Darlington via A1 Direct to Durham
Expansion of York & Country & Hodgson's Services providing new and improved links across North Yorkshire maintaining existing frequencies as per current timetables.

East-West Coastliner
827/828 - Whitby or Scarborough - Pickering - Helmsley - Thirk - Northerallerton - Hurworth-On-Tees - Darlington - Barnard Castle - Kirkby Stephen - Penrith - Carlisle

North Yorkshire Coastliner
835/836 - Leeds - Harrogate - Ripon - Thirsk - Helmsley - Pickering - Whitby (835) or Scarborough (836)
Using 2 Boards of the existing Harrogate Bus Company 36, 1 Board every 2 hours would extend from Ripon to Whitby or Scarborough providing customers with new links and a direct service to the North Yorkshire Coast.

Cross Pennine
580/581 - Carlisle - Penrith - Shap - Kendel - Kirkby Lonsdale - Settle - Skipton - Harrogate (580) or Leeds (581)
Expansion of Kirkby Lonsdale ops of services 106 (Kendel - Penrith) and 580/581 (Settle or Kirkby Lonsdale to Skipton).
Services would run between hours where there are no Northern Trains providing a service thus offering customers an alternative.

Not sure some of them would make much sense because of how long there are.

If you want some more, lets say realistic, North Yorkshire ones though, I'd say:

28A/28B: Middlesbrough to Northallerton, merge 28A and 80/89 as one route
30X: Thirsk to Northallerton, Extend 30X to Northallerton direct - interwork with 70 to provide an hourly bus service between the two towns direct
70: Ripon to Darlington, merge 70/72 as one route

Would open some large town links ie. Northallerton to York/Eaglecliffe, Thirsk to Darlington and the villages at either side of Stokesley to Northallerton or Middlesbrough respectively.

(07 Jan 2026, 5:24 pm)Malarkey wrote Thought I'd come up with some suggestions where you can expand on council secured services and in turn provide alternatives where there is also a limited operating train service/connections in some of what I have come up with below. #MalarkeyMarathonCommentPending

North Yorkshire Connect
X70 - Harrogate - Ripon - Thirsk - Northallerton - Darlington via A1 Direct to Durham
29/30/30X - York - Rawcliffe - Skelton - Thirsk - Thornton-Le-Moor - Northallerton - Darlington via A1 Direct to Durham
Expansion of York & Country & Hodgson's Services providing new and improved links across North Yorkshire maintaining existing frequencies as per current timetables.

East-West Coastliner
827/828 - Whitby or Scarborough - Pickering - Helmsley - Thirk - Northerallerton - Hurworth-On-Tees - Darlington - Barnard Castle - Kirkby Stephen - Penrith - Carlisle

North Yorkshire Coastliner
835/836 - Leeds - Harrogate - Ripon - Thirsk - Helmsley - Pickering - Whitby (835) or Scarborough (836)
Using 2 Boards of the existing Harrogate Bus Company 36, 1 Board every 2 hours would extend from Ripon to Whitby or Scarborough providing customers with new links and a direct service to the North Yorkshire Coast.

Cross Pennine
580/581 - Carlisle - Penrith - Shap - Kendel - Kirkby Lonsdale - Settle - Skipton - Harrogate (580) or Leeds (581)
Expansion of Kirkby Lonsdale ops of services 106 (Kendel - Penrith) and 580/581 (Settle or Kirkby Lonsdale to Skipton).
Services would run between hours where there are no Northern Trains providing a service thus offering customers an alternative.

Gerrin, we've not had a Malarkey Marathon for a while! I've missed them.

(08 Jan 2026, 1:31 pm)Andreos1 wrote Gerrin, we've not had a Malarkey Marathon for a while! I've missed them.

Stranraer to Seaham vis Low Fell and Lambton Village Centre. Every 30 mins. Will challenge the hegemony of the 685 between Brampton and West Denton.

(07 Jan 2026, 8:34 pm)Storx wrote Not sure some of them would make much sense because of how long there are.

If you want some more, lets say realistic, North Yorkshire ones though, I'd say:

28A/28B: Middlesbrough to Northallerton, merge 28A and 80/89 as one route
30X: Thirsk to Northallerton, Extend 30X to Northallerton direct - interwork with 70 to provide an hourly bus service between the two towns direct
70: Ripon to Darlington, merge 70/72 as one route

Would open some large town links ie. Northallerton to York/Eaglecliffe, Thirsk to Darlington and the villages at either side of Stokesley to Northallerton or Middlesbrough respectively.

I'd be happy to curtail the 835/836 to start at Harrogate with an approx journey time of 2hrs 30 Minutes .

The main thing I looked at was that there were a lot of council secured services all split up in smaller segments that perhaps did not take into account wait times for connections and I felt perhaps these would be better for those in these areas if the were merged together and provided an alternative especially if the trains go to pot which from experience they tend to do a lot between Darlington and York and at present there are no alternatives.

As for the other suggestions purely alternatives to the train without the hassle of changing, if you look at Carlisle to Scarborough your either changing at Newcastle & York or Leeds via the Settle Line depending which way you go with a journey time of almost 4 hours, whereas you could have a limited bus service 2-3 times a day that takes 3 and a half hours, lets be honest the route/time taken is not dissimilar to the Yorkshire Coastliner (840/843), Cross Pennine (685), Go North East (Old X11 Newcastle-Scarborough) and no where near as excessive as some of old Malarkey Marathons. 

Have no idea what MurdnunoC is chatting about with his Stranraer to Seaham via Low Fell and Lambton Village Centre, think that may well be a MurdnunoC Marathon personally, doesn't matter end of the journey your at you'll wind up freezing your bollocks off haha.

(08 Jan 2026, 6:13 pm)Malarkey wrote Have no idea what MurdnunoC is chatting about with his Stranraer to Seaham via Low Fell and Lambton Village Centre, think that may well be a MurdnunoC Marathon personally, doesn't matter end of the journey your at you'll wind up freezing your bollocks off haha.

I seem to recall a suggestion by yourself that wasn't too far off.

Might have been Dumfries to Sunderland or something like that, but I'm pretty sure you had it going via Lambton Bus Link .

(08 Jan 2026, 6:42 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I seem to recall a suggestion by yourself that wasn't too far off.

Might have been Dumfries to Sunderland or something like that, but I'm pretty sure you had it going via Lambton Bus Link .

Wasn't far off   , your miles off 

(08 Jan 2026, 2:02 pm)MurdnunoC wrote Stranraer to Seaham vis Low Fell and Lambton Village Centre. Every 30 mins. Will challenge the hegemony of the 685 between Brampton and West Denton.

nah not going to work, doesn't split at Howden and one half does via hadrian park and the other goes to Silverlink.

So nah not going to work, better try next time

A malarkey marathon, rolling back the years to Clifton Hignett and Rocket Romano

Hope the long missed link between Low Fell and Benidorm is addressed, hopefully combining changes to the Coast Road and the double deck situation at Consett whilst ensuring there’s at least one Angel branded bus heading down to the Costa Blanca

(09 Jan 2026, 9:33 pm)Ambassador wrote A malarkey marathon, rolling back the years to Clifton Hignett and Rocket Romano

Hope the long missed link between Low Fell and Benidorm is addressed, hopefully combining changes to the Coast Road and the double deck situation at Consett whilst ensuring there’s at least one Angel branded bus heading down to the Costa Blanca

Don't think a Angel Streetdeck would make it to the end of the run way without incurring some sought of fault.

(22 Aug 2024, 7:48 pm)morritt89 wrote Not sure if my mind is playing tricks but wasn't there once a Stagecoach service that went from Sunderland to Boldon Asda (I'm thinking it was the 5 and it also went to/from Doxford Park Morrisons store entrance inside the car park) however I stand to be corrected.

Heworth to Sunderland by bus would be useful for when there is no Metro, I agree with that.

Could they not make the x24 stop at Heworth?  It shouldn't really have much of an effect on the timetable.

(11 Jan 2026, 4:45 pm)big mac wrote Could they not make the x24 stop at Heworth?  It shouldn't really have much of an effect on the timetable.

I think it's a combination of not wanting to pay bus station fees (vs return on customers gained) and it would take away flexibility if there's a diversion needed.

Talking about Heworth, there badly needs to be some serious discussion about how to serve Central Station coming from the South.

Since the Northumberland Line has opened, it hasn't half opened up my eyes how diabolical the links are to pretty much everywhere which isn't the Metrocentre.

Changing at Gateshead for one stop, isn't the answer either as it's a huge inconvience and nor is walking 15 minutes from John Dobson Street inbound either. It's very different 

The ironic thing is already do a loop which has a bus stop nearby at the High Level Bridge but we've got an obsession of terminating everything at a bus station or the middle of nowhere which imo isn't needed for turn up and go services like the 21, 56, 58, X1 etc.

They could easily do something like:


Which would give links to every part of Newcastle ie. someone who works at the new HMRC, can get on the bus outside for Low Fell rather than having to trail across half of Newcastle, similar for Central the opposite way.

(11 Jan 2026, 5:28 pm)Storx wrote Talking about Heworth, there badly needs to be some serious discussion about how to serve Central Station coming from the South.

Since the Northumberland Line has opened, it hasn't half opened up my eyes how diabolical the links are to pretty much everywhere which isn't the Metrocentre.

Changing at Gateshead for one stop, isn't the answer either as it's a huge inconvience and nor is walking 15 minutes from John Dobson Street inbound either. It's very different 

The ironic thing is already do a loop which has a bus stop nearby at the High Level Bridge but we've got an obsession of terminating everything at a bus station or the middle of nowhere which imo isn't needed for turn up and go services like the 21, 56, 58, X1 etc.

They could easily do something like:


Which would give links to every part of Newcastle ie. someone who works at the new HMRC, can get on the bus outside for Low Fell rather than having to trail across half of Newcastle, similar for Central the opposite way.

An idea I had was open High Level Bridge back to being Buses Only in both directions, the bridge would obviously remain single lane due to weight restrictions and would operate with a sensor/signalling system that would switch traffic priorities every 2-3 minutes or when a Bus approaches, this would allow services from Gateshead to serve Central Station without having to go along Askew Road and Redheugh Bridge. Road configurations at both ends of the bridge would have to be redesigned.

(11 Jan 2026, 5:28 pm)Storx wrote Talking about Heworth, there badly needs to be some serious discussion about how to serve Central Station coming from the South.

Since the Northumberland Line has opened, it hasn't half opened up my eyes how diabolical the links are to pretty much everywhere which isn't the Metrocentre.

Changing at Gateshead for one stop, isn't the answer either as it's a huge inconvience and nor is walking 15 minutes from John Dobson Street inbound either. It's very different 

The ironic thing is already do a loop which has a bus stop nearby at the High Level Bridge but we've got an obsession of terminating everything at a bus station or the middle of nowhere which imo isn't needed for turn up and go services like the 21, 56, 58, X1 etc.

They could easily do something like:


Which would give links to every part of Newcastle ie. someone who works at the new HMRC, can get on the bus outside for Low Fell rather than having to trail across half of Newcastle, similar for Central the opposite way.

Ironically, the before the High Level Bridge works, the services around there were great. 

Whether you got off at the north end of the High Level, or further round towards Clayton Street etc, there was always an option of being in various parts of the town vs the current situation. 

Imo BSIP shouldn't be used for this. 
Operators just need to get their head in to gear (I'd say think outside the box, but it's too obvious) and realise people don't want to faff around changing or being inconvenienced.

(11 Jan 2026, 7:32 pm)Malarkey wrote An idea I had was open High Level Bridge back to being Buses Only in both directions, the bridge would obviously remain single lane due to weight restrictions and would operate with a sensor/signalling system that would switch traffic priorities every 2-3 minutes or when a Bus approaches, this would allow services from Gateshead to serve Central Station without having to go along Askew Road and Redheugh Bridge. Road configurations at both ends of the bridge would have to be redesigned.

I don't think the bridge is strong enough. 

But, it's not beyond the whit of man nor beast to offer some sort of alternative routing in and out of the town. 
Even if it means making Collingwood Street bi-directional. Doesn't need to be one-way imo.

(12 Jan 2026, 10:31 am)Andreos1 wrote Ironically, the before the High Level Bridge works, the services around there were great. 

Whether you got off at the north end of the High Level, or further round towards Clayton Street etc, there was always an option of being in various parts of the town vs the current situation. 

Imo BSIP shouldn't be used for this. 
Operators just need to get their head in to gear (I'd say think outside the box, but it's too obvious) and realise people don't want to faff around changing or being inconvenienced.

Aye agreed, it's just a mess now but do agree I'm not sure two way on the High Level Bridge..

Btw I do think BSIP should be used though, but not towards the operators but more about making road improvements to make it work, stuff like potentially making Collingwood Street two way like you mentioned above.

Truthfully Newcastle, needs to decide what it's long term bus plan is which includes closing Blackett Street, for once and all, and come up with something sensible

Like away from the loop (you could still do it) imo the network should be something like:


Which breaks up the Stagecoach services so it's not all slammed down Market Street, with the bottom end of Grainger Street going one way with the orange bits going pedestrianised because they should be imo. Would fix most issues really.

(12 Jan 2026, 12:21 pm)Storx wrote Aye agreed, it's just a mess now but do agree I'm not sure two way on the High Level Bridge..

Btw I do think BSIP should be used though, but not towards the operators but more about making road improvements to make it work, stuff like potentially making Collingwood Street two way like you mentioned above.

Truthfully Newcastle, needs to decide what it's long term bus plan is which includes closing Blackett Street, for once and all, and come up with something sensible

Like away from the loop (you could still do it) imo the network should be something like:


Which breaks up the Stagecoach services so it's not all slammed down Market Street, with the bottom end of Grainger Street going one way with the orange bits going pedestrianised because they should be imo. Would fix most issues really.

Perhaps sending the diverted buses from Blackett Street onto new stops at Percy Street, so Grainger Street and Newgate Street aren't getting hundreds more buses per hour?