(23 Mar 2026, 9:55 pm)X919 WGR wrote Was all good in the world before the infamous 2021 changes.
Easy X45/X46 & V9.

I'm surprised the cancellations of the 7:15/50 & just after 5PM times haven't actually given GNE the idea to reintroduce the X46.

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I would only go with the 47 since obviously its not an express and it could be the easy replacement or even have the X5 replace the V1/V2. I do get what you mean with the Short & Frequent links since there was the failed few month attempt of having the X45 serve Templetown after the Bus Station. So it would just add on. I do think the V1/V2/V5 could do with a rework. Even it was to merge all 3 routes into 1. Delves to The Dene just to remove the odd number of V routes.

Completely agreed. Although similar to the current situation now to maintain an equal frequency on the Rowlandsgill - Newcastle side it can be frustrating that both the 45 & 46 and now the 47 & X45 leave consett at the same time and follow each other. 

I definitely agree that there is a need of a rework of the Ventures. Such a shame the network was cut back. The V3 to The Dene was handy but very much not popular. It could be argued a circular type serving most areas is needed to remove pressure on NCL bound routes. The Templetown extension seemed odd but I was guessing it was to help with driver shuttles?

(23 Mar 2026, 9:28 pm)X919 WGR wrote See thats would it would have to be as that was the result as to why the V5 was removed. The 47A replaced it at that time which then caused GNE to create the V3 between Medomsley/The Dene & Consett going through Shotley (i think).

I think some possible simple solutions GNE could come up with to try and at least calm down the 45 & 47 especially with more common Enviro 200MMC Allocations

So here's what I would do.

I won't do timings for these suggestions.

- Withdraw Services V1 & V2 since Venture is no longer being continued and remove the Town Centre --> Crookhall section of the V5.
- Have the 47 be extended to Crookhall & Delves Lane to cover the V1/V2 circular & V5 chunk.
- Change the V5 to Start at Templetown/Hownsgill Depot and run through this order: Hownsgill --> Consett --> Shotley Bridge --> Hospital --> Shotley Bridge Bank (Summerhill) --> The Dene --> Medomsley. This will remove the 16 to Shotley Extension. Also route does not need to be named the V5. Could be the C1 or a random number or even be the same
                                                                                                   (replaces V5 from Consett to Medomsley)
- Reintroduce the 47A as either 46 or 45A. Runs between Consett --> Leadgate --> Bradley Bungalows --> Medomsley --> Ebchester Bank --> Lintzford --> Rowlands Gill --> Metrocentre --> Newcastle Eldon Square. Reintroduces the Metrocentre & Rowlands Gill link for Leadgate to Medomsley for the 3rd time in the past 20 years.


Summarised.
- Reintroduced Links to Metrocentre & Newcastle for Delves Lane
- V5 becomes a Shotley Circular
- An Additional Metrocentre Bus for Leadgate & Medomsley

Its not a lot but could just quieten down some of the 45 journeys

See I get your ideas there but personally I'd go further.

Personally I'd look at an express Newcastle network that looks something like:


It creates an easy network with the vast majority of places getting 2 BPH towards Newcastle without any of the confusion and both Stanley and Consett getting 2 buses to Gateshead aswell and a dedicated Whickham Express.  As much as the X45/47 has it's problems the 6/X30/X31/X32/X70/X71/X71A/X72/X73 mess is even worse; it's just completely confusing which one goes where. Just get it nice and tidy.

The rest of the links, will be done with some local services, probably similar to the 43/44 from yesteryear which would do Burnopfield etc.

(24 Mar 2026, 8:42 am)TheClumsyPineapple wrote I definitely agree that there is a need of a rework of the Ventures. Such a shame the network was cut back. The V3 to The Dene was handy but very much not popular. It could be argued a circular type serving most areas is needed to remove pressure on NCL bound routes. The Templetown extension seemed odd but I was guessing it was to help with driver shuttles?

I think so. That Consett Bus Station to Depot extension just caused a mess for the X45 & 16
They did the X45 to Hownsgill from I think the September 2022 changes to the January 2023 changes.
Later in the year they did the 16 to Hownsgill instead of Tesco's for a few months which then finished.
Then they had the 16 take over the 47 extension to Shotley Bridge. Which allowed the 47 when it took over the X46 part from Bridgehill to Consett to no longer be extended to Shotley Bridge Hospital.
The V5 took over the Hownsgill chunk which obviously remains today.

The V3 was only in place because of the V5 becoming the 47A and the 47A never served The Dene. Only got removed as the locals wanted the V5 instead of the Newcastle bus.

(24 Mar 2026, 11:21 am)Storx wrote See I get your ideas there but personally I'd go further.

Personally I'd look at an express Newcastle network that looks something like:


It creates an easy network with the vast majority of places getting 2 BPH towards Newcastle without any of the confusion and both Stanley and Consett getting 2 buses to Gateshead aswell and a dedicated Whickham Express.  As much as the X45/47 has it's problems the 6/X30/X31/X32/X70/X71/X71A/X72/X73 mess is even worse; it's just completely confusing which one goes where. Just get it nice and tidy.

The rest of the links, will be done with some local services, probably similar to the 43/44 from yesteryear which would do Burnopfield etc.

As you post this. This was released https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyrn730n81o

My thoughts from what is said in the article:
I don't agree from the article that the X15 should go off course to serve the village as that will add a lot more time to the route.
I think they could really look into either trying to have the X30 be a Sunday extension to Lanchester & Burnhope or look into making a new route for Sundays only from Stanley to Durham. Even it was the 16C (sounds dramatic) that went from Stanley --> Burnhope --> Witton Gilbert --> Durham. Doesnt have to run every 30 minutes. Could be every hour but it could really benefit to solve a problem like this.

(24 Mar 2026, 12:49 pm)X919 WGR wrote As you post this. This was released https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/clyrn730n81o

My thoughts from what is said in the article:
I don't agree from the article that the X15 should go off course to serve the village as that will add a lot more time to the route.
I think they could really look into either trying to have the X30 be a Sunday extension to Lanchester & Burnhope or look into making a new route for Sundays only from Stanley to Durham. Even it was the 16C (sounds dramatic) that went from Stanley --> Burnhope --> Witton Gilbert --> Durham. Doesnt have to run every 30 minutes. Could be every hour but it could really benefit to solve a problem like this.

Yeah not surprised tbh, Burnhope's service is horrid really.

Mind you'd probably be better extending the X73 through from Anfield Plain. Right now it does absolutely nothing unique heading to Stanley via a dog leg duplicating the 6/16 depending where you are.

(24 Mar 2026, 2:30 pm)Storx wrote Yeah not surprised tbh, Burnhope's service is horrid really.

Mind you'd probably be better extending the X73 through from Anfield Plain. Right now it does absolutely nothing unique heading to Stanley via a dog leg duplicating the 6/16 depending where you are.

Burnhope is one of those very awkward places to serve. It also only has 1,500 residents. So, I'm not sure DCC could justify the spend. Stanhope doesn't have a Sunday service and that's a tourist hotspot, so Burnhope has no chance.

GNE could terminate the 50 at South Shields South Pier and then back via Ocean Road, instead of going all the way down to Marsden. That would give the 14 enough time to serve Burnhope and they wouldn't even need to add a bus to do it!

(24 Mar 2026, 7:23 pm)Kimlfixit wrote Burnhope is one of those very awkward places to serve. It also only has 1,500 residents. So, I'm not sure DCC could justify the spend. Stanhope doesn't have a Sunday service and that's a tourist hotspot, so Burnhope has no chance.

GNE could terminate the 50 at South Shields South Pier and then back via Ocean Road, instead of going all the way down to Marsden. That would give the 14 enough time to serve Burnhope and they wouldn't even need to add a bus to do it!

I don't know if it would be worth it.
The 14 going into Langley to loop around to then go a few minutes down the road to Loop around Burnhope.
Its not a bad shout but as you mention its in an awkward place to get buses to serve.
There could be a few beneficial services but with the extended services it adds more time.
If it wasn't such a far extension the 34 would be a decent extension which would cover Weardale's 725 to Chester-le-Street

(24 Mar 2026, 11:21 am)Storx wrote See I get your ideas there but personally I'd go further.

Personally I'd look at an express Newcastle network that looks something like:


It creates an easy network with the vast majority of places getting 2 BPH towards Newcastle without any of the confusion and both Stanley and Consett getting 2 buses to Gateshead aswell and a dedicated Whickham Express.  As much as the X45/47 has it's problems the 6/X30/X31/X32/X70/X71/X71A/X72/X73 mess is even worse; it's just completely confusing which one goes where. Just get it nice and tidy.

The rest of the links, will be done with some local services, probably similar to the 43/44 from yesteryear which would do Burnopfield etc.

Just thinking out loud, but is there any way the 49/49A(which i'd renumber to 48) could be extended as an alternative

(24 Mar 2026, 9:34 pm)V514DFT wrote Just thinking out loud, but is there any way the 49/49A(which i'd renumber to 48) could be extended as an alternative

Not gonna lie, I was kinda thinking about the 12 in a similar way (not suggesting it's a good idea mind).

Could easily cut through Winlaton and then continue through to Rowlands Gill and cash in on the R's subsidies at the same time. Winlaton probably does serve more than 2 buses an hour to Newcastle tbh, especially the route it takes around Winlaton aswell.

(24 Mar 2026, 11:21 am)Storx wrote See I get your ideas there but personally I'd go further.

Personally I'd look at an express Newcastle network that looks something like:


It creates an easy network with the vast majority of places getting 2 BPH towards Newcastle without any of the confusion and both Stanley and Consett getting 2 buses to Gateshead aswell and a dedicated Whickham Express.  As much as the X45/47 has it's problems the 6/X30/X31/X32/X70/X71/X71A/X72/X73 mess is even worse; it's just completely confusing which one goes where. Just get it nice and tidy.

The rest of the links, will be done with some local services, probably similar to the 43/44 from yesteryear which would do Burnopfield etc.

Its not bad of a suggestion however. Sorry if I do not get your routes correct from the map you've drawn. Just guessing.

- Residents of Castleside most prefer the Durham connection. They tried the 78 down there after withdrawing the 16 from the area and they did not want a route to Sunderland. so that reverted. 

- The Red Route that serves Medomsley Edge & the B6309 Road is already covered by the X71 (Again sorry if its your redoing the entire lot) so it would be better if it goes down Ebchester Bank since they have had no bus since September 2022 when both 47/47A were taken away and again Medomsley itself has the X71.

- Agree that the X45 should mainly stay the same. However, that makes Laburnium Avenue in Blackhill miss out on their Newcastle bus. I think the 16 Should instead serve Number One & Durham Road even if it has to go back up Medomsley Road

- People of Chopwell will probably want a bus into Town (Consett) so I don't know if your cutting the Consett - Chopwell route or having it back into the split route of the 47 & V9.

- The Pink Route from Consett to Stanley is just a near dup of the 16 (to the Jolly Drovers) and the 78 into Stanley.

- I lastly take that the Yellow line in Whickham is to cover the basically the whole lot that serves the area. That will need one to go Swalwell Lidl & Metrocentre if they want the quick connection to miss the stupidly long 301.

(24 Mar 2026, 7:23 pm)Kimlfixit wrote Burnhope is one of those very awkward places to serve. It also only has 1,500 residents. So, I'm not sure DCC could justify the spend. Stanhope doesn't have a Sunday service and that's a tourist hotspot, so Burnhope has no chance.

GNE could terminate the 50 at South Shields South Pier and then back via Ocean Road, instead of going all the way down to Marsden. That would give the 14 enough time to serve Burnhope and they wouldn't even need to add a bus to do it!

Aye not sure about, the 14 doing it. Be a bit of a backtrack from Langley Park.

Agreed with it being awkward though mind. Truthfully I'd probably just look at running the 6 through all the time tbh. Doesn't make much sense having a Durham service on a Sunday but not the rest of the week. It'd probably have been a good use of BSIP funds really.

(24 Mar 2026, 7:23 pm)Kimlfixit wrote Burnhope is one of those very awkward places to serve. It also only has 1,500 residents. So, I'm not sure DCC could justify the spend. Stanhope doesn't have a Sunday service and that's a tourist hotspot, so Burnhope has no chance.

GNE could terminate the 50 at South Shields South Pier and then back via Ocean Road, instead of going all the way down to Marsden. That would give the 14 enough time to serve Burnhope and they wouldn't even need to add a bus to do it!

In fairness, COVID killed off Stanhope’s Sunday service, and it wasn’t particularly well used when it did run (100 Crook-Alston)

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(24 Mar 2026, 10:11 pm)Storx wrote Aye not sure about, the 14 doing it. Be a bit of a backtrack from Langley Park.

Agreed with it being awkward though mind. Truthfully I'd probably just look at running the 6 through all the time tbh. Doesn't make much sense having a Durham service on a Sunday but not the rest of the week. It'd probably have been a good use of BSIP funds really.

As a BSIP route, it would surely make sense to have a Durham-Ushaw House-Langley Park-Burnhope service as that way you can maximise with tourism to Ushaw House whilst also providing a faster link to Durham for Langley Park Residents. The Turning circle still exists at the top end of Burnhope too so no need for a stupid loop. It would take little over an hour but putting it in as part of the 61/2 cycle would mean an hourly service with a PVR of 2

(24 Mar 2026, 10:22 pm)220631612 wrote As a BSIP route, it would surely make sense to have a Durham-Ushaw House-Langley Park-Burnhope service as that way you can maximise with tourism to Ushaw House whilst also providing a faster link to Durham for Langley Park Residents. The Turning circle still exists at the top end of Burnhope too so no need for a stupid loop. It would take little over an hour but putting it in as part of the 61/2 cycle would mean an hourly service with a PVR of 2

Aye could do, only problem I could see there is you'd be duplicating the 52/53 a bit which do Ushaw House. Whether you could merge it into them somehow, I dunno - it's not an area I know very well. The roads are a bit of a maze up there.