My Suggestions on possible X8 and a 20A Extension

20A - Bishop Auckland - Spennymoor - Durham - Gilesgate Moor - Belmont - The Raintons - Rainton Bridge - Houghton le Spring - Doxford International - East Herrington - Barnes Park - Sunderland

X8 - Sunderland - Barnes Park - East Herrington - Doxford International - Houghton le Spring - Hetton-le-Hole - Belmont - Durham - Spennymoor - Bishop Auckland

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Now Something Different

Current Form

60 - Parkside - Dawdon - Seaham - New Seaham - Ryhope - Grangetown - Sunderland

61 - Murton - Dalton Park - New Seaham - Ryhope - Grangetown - Sunderland

X35 - Sunderland - Doxford International - Houghton-le-Spring - Hetton-le-Hole - Easington Lane - South Hetton - Easington Village - Horden - Blackhall - Peterlee - Hartlepool

202 - Peterlee - Essington Way - Easington Village - South Hetton - Easington Lane - Murton - Dalton Park - Dawdon - Seaham


New Form

60 - Peterlee - Essington Way - Easington Village - South Hetton - Easington Lane - Parkside - Dawdon - Seaham - New Seaham - Ryhope - Grangetown - Sunderland

61 - Peterlee - Essington Way - Easington Village - South Hetton - Easington Lane - Murton - Dalton Park - Dawdon - Seaham - New Seaham - Ryhope - Grangtown - Sunderland

I would do this;

60/60A: Sunderland-Grangetown-Ryhope-New Seaham-Seaham (Every 7-8 Minutes)
60: Parkside via Dawdon, every 15 minutes & 60A: Murton via Dalton Park, every 15 minutes.

238: Sunderland-Ashbrooke-Leechmere-Ryhope-Dene House Road-Seaham-Dawdon-Northlea-Westlea
Hourly

71: Chester Le Street-Great Lumley-Fencehouses-Houghton Le Spring-Seaton-Station Road-Seaham
Half Hourly.

265: Hourly, will omit Westlea.

215: Hourly, Seaham & Murton Circular.

(07 Jul 2013, 8:11 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote My Suggestions on possible X8 and a 20A Extension

20A - Bishop Auckland - Spennymoor - Durham - Gilesgate Moor - Belmont - The Raintons - Rainton Bridge - Houghton le Spring - Doxford International - East Herrington - Barnes Park - Sunderland

X8 - Sunderland - Barnes Park - East Herrington - Doxford International - Houghton le Spring - Hetton-le-Hole - Belmont - Durham - Spennymoor - Bishop Auckland

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Now Something Different

Current Form

60 - Parkside - Dawdon - Seaham - New Seaham - Ryhope - Grangetown - Sunderland

61 - Murton - Dalton Park - New Seaham - Ryhope - Grangetown - Sunderland

X35 - Sunderland - Doxford International - Houghton-le-Spring - Hetton-le-Hole - Easington Lane - South Hetton - Easington Village - Horden - Blackhall - Peterlee - Hartlepool

202 - Peterlee - Essington Way - Easington Village - South Hetton - Easington Lane - Murton - Dalton Park - Dawdon - Seaham


New Form

60 - Peterlee - Essington Way - Easington Village - South Hetton - Easington Lane - Parkside - Dawdon - Seaham - New Seaham - Ryhope - Grangetown - Sunderland

61 - Peterlee - Essington Way - Easington Village - South Hetton - Easington Lane - Murton - Dalton Park - Dawdon - Seaham - New Seaham - Ryhope - Grangtown - Sunderland

About express service between Sunderland and Durham via Houghton etc.., theres no demand for this service and this is why the X20 got withdrawn due to low patronage.

Theres no demand to extend the 60 or 61 from Seaham and Murton to Peterlee via Easington Lane, been done before on the 152/162 and later 202 and ended up Durham Council paying for this service until GNE stepped in and took it back commercial as there were due to lose the contract to rival company.

There should renumber half the journeys on service 60 as 62 and extend the service from Seaham to Peterlee direct then maybe down to Hartlepool, which will give Arriva run for there money on there service 23.

About having an express from Sunderland to Middlesbrough via Hartlepool wont work as the Hartlepool to Middlesbrough section is heavy territory by Stagecoach services

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(08 Jul 2013, 12:31 am)CatsFast101 wrote I would do this;

60/60A: Sunderland-Grangetown-Ryhope-New Seaham-Seaham (Every 7-8 Minutes)
60: Parkside via Dawdon, every 15 minutes & 60A: Murton via Dalton Park, every 15 minutes.

238: Sunderland-Ashbrooke-Leechmere-Ryhope-Dene House Road-Seaham-Dawdon-Northlea-Westlea
Hourly

71: Chester Le Street-Great Lumley-Fencehouses-Houghton Le Spring-Seaton-Station Road-Seaham
Half Hourly.

265: Hourly, will omit Westlea.

215: Hourly, Seaham & Murton Circular.

service 71 extension: theres no demand for a 30 minute service between Seaham and Houghton, luckily enough it doesn't warrant a service every 2 hours between Houghton and Seaham, I already mentioned to GNE awhile ago to run service 71 from Chester-Le-Street to Seaham then Sunderland every hour and then the other half hourly service would extend from Houghton to Peterlee via the 923 route, the 2 services would have 2 new numbers and could be put under the East Durham Brand.

About the 215 hourly, Seaham & Murton Circular. There will be no demand for this service as the 202 and 265 operates between the to areas.

238 - Sunderland - Ashbrooke - Hollycarrside - Ryhope - Seaham - New Seaham - Seaton - Houghton-le-Spring - Fence Houses - Great Lumley - Chester le Street

*Replacing Service 71*

`61/61A - Sunderland - Grangetown - Ryhope - New Seaham - Dalton Park - Murton - Hetton-le-Hole - Houghton le Spring - Doxford International - East Herrington - Barnes Park - Sunderland

* Operating in a Clockwise/Anti Clockwise Loop Every 20 Minutes in both Directions

I really think your idea for the 61/61A could work.

How long would it take can't work it out?

(08 Jul 2013, 2:26 pm)Michael wrote I really think your idea for the 61/61A could work.

How long would it take can't work it out?

In it's current form it takes 63 Minutes to do a whole round trip.

New Form

Sunderland to Murton - 26 Minutes
Murton to Hetton le Hole - 6 Minutes
Hetton le Hole to Sunderland - 34 Minutes

Total = 66 Minutes

Currently there is 7 Minutes layover in Sunderland, in the New form it would only be 4 Minutes, it could be cut down further if it was to miss out Doxford International it would take 10 Minutes less.

So making a round trip 56 Minutes instead of 66 Minutes in New Form and also it would be 7 Minutes Faster in New Form compared to current form. Which is also the current period of Layover time in Sunderland Interchange.

Is there enough time to send it via Rainton Bridge to open up new connections and do away with that portion of the 35a?

(08 Jul 2013, 4:52 pm)Andreos1 wrote Is there enough time to send it via Rainton Bridge to open up new connections and do away with that portion of the 35a?

that could also work I think if it wasn't to serve Doxford International, because I think that may add upto a further 10 Minutes. could also replace the 20A.

The 20a works with it bringing people into Rainton Bridge from West Rainton, Carville, Durham etc as well as carrying passengers beyond.
Whereas the 35a (apart from peak times) generally runs very light to/from Rainton Bridge.
An alternative 'through' bus running with the 20a opposed to one using Npower as a terminus may work better

Why not have the 42 extending from Sunderland to Roker and Seaburn? What does everyone think?

(08 Jul 2013, 5:21 pm)W179SCU wrote Why not have the 42 extending from Sunderland to Roker and Seaburn? What does everyone think?

It would easier to extend the 700 along that way which has been mentioned in the past.

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(08 Jul 2013, 5:09 pm)Andreos1 wrote The 20a works with it bringing people into Rainton Bridge from West Rainton, Carville, Durham etc as well as carrying passengers beyond.
Whereas the 35a (apart from peak times) generally runs very light to/from Rainton Bridge.
An alternative 'through' bus running with the 20a opposed to one using Npower as a terminus may work better

Yeah that is a good point, I think regarding my 238/71 Idea that could run via Rainton Bridge also going to/from Houghton and Seaham which would also create the links you proposed for the my 61/61A Idea.

(08 Jul 2013, 5:28 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote

(08 Jul 2013, 5:21 pm)W179SCU wrote Why not have the 42 extending from Sunderland to Roker and Seaburn? What does everyone think?

It would easier to extend the 700 along that way which has been mentioned in the past.

It would be better for the 700 to extend down to Seaburn - the Summer timetable for the 700 only goes as far as Roker but i think more people could use it if it went to Seaburn after Roker, mainly during the Summer months.

Hopefully this happens in the future, it seems to be doing well, ive used it a few times, quite a few OAP's use it as well.

Would like it to go every 10 mins + extension to Seaburn in the Summer after Roker.

(08 Jul 2013, 5:34 pm)Michael wrote

(08 Jul 2013, 5:28 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote

(08 Jul 2013, 5:21 pm)W179SCU wrote Why not have the 42 extending from Sunderland to Roker and Seaburn? What does everyone think?

It would easier to extend the 700 along that way which has been mentioned in the past.

It would be better for the 700 to extend down to Seaburn - the Summer timetable for the 700 only goes as far as Roker but i think more people could use it if it went to Seaburn after Roker, mainly during the Summer months.

Hopefully this happens in the future, it seems to be doing well, ive used it a few times, quite a few OAP's use it as well.

Would like it to go every 10 mins + extension to Seaburn in the Summer after Roker.

I don't mean the coastline way, through the villages to provide a 10-minute cross city link.

51 and 52
Reduce the frequency of the 51 and 52. Keep to the same route.

57 and 57a
57: Current route to Old Durham Road/Beacon Lough then - Beacon Lough Bank, Durham Road, Harlow Green, Wrekenton, current 51/52 route to Heworth, current 57 route to Beacon Lough.
57a: Operates current 57 route to Heworth, current 51/52 route to Wrekenton, Harlow Green, Beacon Lough Bank, Beacon Lough/Old Durham Road, current route towards Gateshead.

Operates alongside 51/52 on common sections, aleviates the problems caused by vanishing Orbit buses and offers an alternative Cross-Tyne service.

Previous mention of TB14 on here. I caught this today whilst doing a home welfare visit to a sick colleague.

I got on the bus at Birtley Komatsu and duly paid my £1. I asked the driver if he had been busy and he said yes, 8 people had used the service. I commented is 8 in a day a lot and he replied...

'A day? That would be a rush, 8 this month and your the first fare paying passenger in 7 months!'

He had a note on a Gateshead Central Taxis document of passengers carried. He described the route as like 'boredom at its worst' and said the company had done figures that it would be cheaper for Nexus to pay for every passenger last year to have their own taxi than to tender out

(08 Jul 2013, 7:22 pm)gtomlinson wrote Previous mention of TB14 on here. I caught this today whilst doing a home welfare visit to a sick colleague.

I got on the bus at Birtley Komatsu and duly paid my £1. I asked the driver if he had been busy and he said yes, 8 people had used the service. I commented is 8 in a day a lot and he replied...

'A day? That would be a rush, 8 this month and your the first fare paying passenger in 7 months!'

He had a note on a Gateshead Central Taxis document of passengers carried. He described the route as like 'boredom at its worst' and said the company had done figures that it would be cheaper for Nexus to pay for every passenger last year to have their own taxi than to tender out

The thing is though, despite what you've just said - in other words, the facts - I can guarantee there'd be a group of people that would complain if that service was to be withdrawn.

(08 Jul 2013, 7:22 pm)gtomlinson wrote Previous mention of TB14 on here. I caught this today whilst doing a home welfare visit to a sick colleague.

I got on the bus at Birtley Komatsu and duly paid my £1. I asked the driver if he had been busy and he said yes, 8 people had used the service. I commented is 8 in a day a lot and he replied...

'A day? That would be a rush, 8 this month and your the first fare paying passenger in 7 months!'

He had a note on a Gateshead Central Taxis document of passengers carried. He described the route as like 'boredom at its worst' and said the company had done figures that it would be cheaper for Nexus to pay for every passenger last year to have their own taxi than to tender out

Ouch!

(08 Jul 2013, 7:48 pm)BJ10VUS wrote The thing is though, despite what you've just said - in other words, the facts - I can guarantee there'd be a group of people that would complain if that service was to be withdrawn.

Yep because those 8 passengers would be losing a link and would be trapped on the estate despite by my reckoning (roughly) the furthest point it serves being no further than a 5-10 minute walk from Durham Road for it's services or Birtley Lane for the M services.

And councillors love an easy vote winning cause but I imagine it would be difficult to defend this at a time when Nexus is suffering financially

Give those people discounted taxi cards or reduce the service to 1 every few hours instead of its current half hourly service

(08 Jul 2013, 7:52 pm)gtomlinson wrote

(08 Jul 2013, 7:48 pm)BJ10VUS wrote The thing is though, despite what you've just said - in other words, the facts - I can guarantee there'd be a group of people that would complain if that service was to be withdrawn.

Yep because those 8 passengers would be losing a link and would be trapped on the estate despite by my reckoning (roughly) the furthest point it serves being no further than a 5-10 minute walk from Durham Road for it's services or Birtley Lane for the M services.

And councillors love an easy vote winning cause but I imagine it would be difficult to defend this at a time when Nexus is suffering financially

Give those people discounted taxi cards or reduce the service to 1 every few hours instead of its current half hourly service

To be honest, would they really need Taxi Cards? By what the driver said, the service is getting on average around 0.2 passengers a day. If they appreciate the service that much, and if it is that important to them, they should learn to use it! Why Nexus is funding something that only carries a fraction of a person per day is beyond me?

(08 Jul 2013, 7:59 pm)BJ10VUS wrote To be honest, would they really need Taxi Cards? By what the driver said, the service is getting on average around 0.2 passengers a day. If they appreciate the service that much, and if it is that important to them, they should learn to use it! Why Nexus is funding something that only carries a fraction of a person per day is beyond me?

Lack of knowledge? I have to say until I asked the travel planner at work (I used the bus to get my green bonus) I didn't know it ran and when she said TaxiBus I assumed it was a pre-bookable service or one that only concessionary holders could use. Maybe the people in the estate aren't aware it exists (though it looked as if most of them had cars anyway)

When this black Vauxhall van turned up with Gateshead Central Taxis on it I wasn't sure if this was a good idea!

(08 Jul 2013, 8:10 pm)gtomlinson wrote

(08 Jul 2013, 7:59 pm)BJ10VUS wrote To be honest, would they really need Taxi Cards? By what the driver said, the service is getting on average around 0.2 passengers a day. If they appreciate the service that much, and if it is that important to them, they should learn to use it! Why Nexus is funding something that only carries a fraction of a person per day is beyond me?

Lack of knowledge? I have to say until I asked the travel planner at work (I used the bus to get my green bonus) I didn't know it ran and when she said TaxiBus I assumed it was a pre-bookable service or one that only concessionary holders could use. Maybe the people in the estate aren't aware it exists (though it looked as if most of them had cars anyway)

When this black Vauxhall van turned up with Gateshead Central Taxis on it I wasn't sure if this was a good idea!

I think it does put people off, being a taxi rather than the more 'normal' bus. Maybe they should start running them with just numbers rather than the 'TB' and then the number - not sure how much that would really affect numbers though?

(08 Jul 2013, 8:18 pm)BJ10VUS wrote I think it does put people off, being a taxi rather than the more 'normal' bus. Maybe they should start running them with just numbers rather than the 'TB' and then the number - not sure how much that would really affect numbers though?

Probably zero unless they did a leaflet drop of the area and they probably don't want it getting too popular as I think it can only seat 6 or 7 anyway.

I'd be interested in what the 23 used to do on the old route. GNE used to run it commercially in the early days so there must be a market but then again a minibus in company logo might catch the eye more than a non descript black van

When waiting at my local stop, usually getting the first bus which arrives, there has been many a time the local Taxibus has gone past and I haven't realised it was the Taxibus - thought it was a normal taxi!

However, it is often carrying 'pass holders' and Im not sure how they would react to a 30 something interrupting their space.

(08 Jul 2013, 8:22 pm)Andreos1 wrote When waiting at my local stop, usually getting the first bus which arrives, there has been many a time the local Taxibus has gone past and I haven't realised it was the Taxibus - thought it was a normal taxi!

However, it is often carrying 'pass holders' and Im not sure how they would react to a 30 something interrupting their space.

Not well, I'd imagine

I might see if one of the bored bods at work can dig out an FOI request on the TB14. It's bugging me now!

In contrast to the TB14, the Nexus operated R3/R6 and R6 seem to carry decent loadings whenever they pass. The R5 seems to be well used on the section of route between the Gill and Highfield; the rest of route - not so well used.

Service 24.

Reduce to every 30 mins.
Run all journeys to Newcastle via High Street and Jackson Street.
Extend Mon-Sat daytime journeys to Springwell Estate.
Evening/Sunday service would run Hourly Newcastle-Wrekenton.

Service 24A.

Renumber this as service 23.
divert via High Street and Jackson Street.
Runs hourly all day everyday.

Service 28A

Omit Kibblesworth, with buses running via Lamesley Road and Smithy Lane to replace service 29.

Service 29

Withdrawn
Service 23 would link Kibblesworth, Low Fell, Gateshead & Newcastle.

Service 51/52

Mon-Sat daytime trips omit Aycliffe Ave loop, being replaced by extended
service 24.
All trips would serve High Street & Jackson Street in Both directions.

Service 57.

Frequency improved to every 15 mins.
Buses would terminate at Heworth Metro.(59/67/69 serve Wardley)
Extended to Hadrian Park(replacing 58)
Wardley served by revised 67/69 and new 59.
New Buses would be used and branded as Citylink.

Service 58

Replaced by extended 57 Newcastle-Hadrian Park.
Buses would run every 20 mins(combined every 10 mins with New 59)
between Newcastle and Heworth Metro.

New service 59.

Every 20 mins Newcastle-Felling Square-Fewster Square, then via 69 to Wardley Lane terminus.

Services 58/59 would be operated by exFab56 Scania in Dark Blue branded as LeamLink.

Services 64/64A

Withdrawn, replaced by 67/95/95A.

Service 67

New route: Metro Centre-Wellington Road-Ravensworth Road-Tyne View School-Gateshead Metro-Gateshead Library-Broadway-QE Hospital-
Felling Square-Heworth Metro-then as current 57 back to Heworth & Metro Centre.


Service 68

Short Heworth-Bill Quay trips replaced by extended 92.


Service 69.

diverted to serve The Drive and Heworth Metro, but omit Milton Road in Swalwell Estate.


Service 92.

No longer serves Ellen Wilkinson Estate. From Fewster Square buses would run via Grange Crescent to Heworth Metro, then to Bill Quay replacing short 68 trips.

Service 95.

Extended from Lobley Hill via Knightside Gardens to Dunston Circular(64/64A) with buses alternating as 95/95A.

Services 98/98A

Each would run hourly (combined every 30 mins) with all buses serving Dunston Bank in Both directions.

New service 99/99A

Each would hourly(combined every 30 mins)
Newcastle-A184 non-stop-Park Terrace-Knightside Gardens-Whickham Council Offices-Whaggs Lane-Sunniside Front Street-Kingsway-Burnthouse Lane-Broadway-Whickham-Newcastle.

NEW SERVICE IDEAS:

NEW SERVICE 301 (MONDAY - SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 20 MINUTES/ EVENINGS AND SUNDAYS EVERY 30 MINUTES) SERVING: BLYTH BUS STATION - RIDLEY PARK - SEATON SLUICE - WHITLEY BAY CEMETERY - WHITLEY BAY BUS STATION THEN THE CURRENT NO1 ROUTE TO GATESHEAD METRO

NEW SERVICE 302 (MONDAY - SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 20 MINUTES) SERVING: THE CURRENT NO1 ROUTE TO GATESHEAD METRO

NEW SERVICE 309 (MONDAY - SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 30 MINUTES / EVENINGS EVERY 60 MINUTES AND SUNDAY DAYTIME JOURNEYS WILL BE PROVIDED BY SERVICE 310) SERVING: HADRIAN PARK - BATTLE HILL - HIGH FARM - STATION ROAD - BENFIELD ROAD - CHILLINGHAM ROAD - CRADLEWELL - SANDYFORD ROAD - HAYMARKET BUS STATION

SERVICE 310 WILL NOW OPERATE EVERY 30 MINUTES DURING THE DAY. EVENING AND SUNDAY BUSES WILL OPERATE THE THE SAME FREQUENCIES AS PRESENT BUT WILL NOW INCLUDE HADRIAN PARK

NEW SERVICE 85 (MONDAY - SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 30 MINUTES) SERVING: WALLSEND - ROSEHILL - TYNEMOUTH ROAD - HIGH HOWDON - HADRIAN PARK - MIDDLE ENGINE LANE THEN THE CURRENT 310 ROUTE TO NORTH SHIELDS. BUSES WILL THEN CHANGE TO SERVICE 86

NEW SERVICE 86 (MONDAY - SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 30 MINUTES) SERVING: WALLSEND - ROSEHILL - TYNEMOUTH ROAD - HIGH HOWDON - HADRIAN PARK - COBALT SOUTH THEN THE CURRENT 80 ROUTE TO NORTH SHIELDS. BUSES WILL THEN CHANGE TO SERVICE 85

NEW SERVICE 80 (EVENINGS AND SUNDAYS EVERY 30 MINUTES) SERVING: WALLSEND - ROSEHILL - TYNEMOUTH ROAD - HIGH HOWDON - HADRIAN PARK

NEW SERVICE 81 (MONDAY - SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 15 MINUTES / EVENINGS AND SUNDAYS EVERY 30 MINUTES) SERVING: HADRIAN PARK - BATTLE HILL DRIVE - HIGH FARM - STATION ROAD - WALLSEND

NEW SERVICE X8 (MONDAY - SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 30 MINUTES) SERVING: BLYTH BUS STATION - WATERLOO ROAD - ROTARY WAY - SOUTH BEACH - SEATON SLUICE ROUNDABOUT - NEW HARTLEY - SEATON DELEVAL AVENUE ROAD - ELSDON AVENUE - TILLMOUTH AVENUE - HOLLYWELL DENE - SHIREMOOR METRO - LESBURY AVENUE - NORTHUMBERLAND PARK METRO - WEST ALLOTMENT - COBALT BUSINESS PARK - COBALT SOUTH THEN THE CURRENT 310 ROUTE TO NEWCASTLE

NEW SERVICE 58 (MONDAY - SATURDAY DAYTIME EVERY 10 MINUTES / EVENINGS AND SUNDAYS EVERY 30 MINUTES) SERVING: THE CURRENT 309 ROUTE BETWEEN WHITLEY BAY CEMETERY AND SANDYFORD ROAD. BUSES WILL THEN CONTINUE TO HEWORTH VIA THE CURRENT 58 ROUTE. BUSES TOWARDS WHITLEY BAY OPERATE DIRECTLY TO ST MARY'S PLACE VIA THE CENTRAL MOTORWAY FROM GATESHEAD. EVENING AND SUNDAY BUSES WILL ALSO CALL AT HAYMARKET BUS STATION TOWARDS WHITLEY BAY.

NEW SERVICE 58A (SUNDAY DAYTIME EVERY 30 MINUTES) SERVING: THE CURRENT 58 ROUTE BETWEEN HEWORTH AND NEWCASTLE. BUSES WILL SERVE THE CURRENT 58 STOPS BETWEEN PILGRIM STREET AND HEWORTH

THROUGH FARES WILL BE AVAILABLE FROM SERVICE 301 ONTO SERVICE 58 AND VICE VERSA. EVENING SERVICE 58 AND 301 JOURNEYS WILL BE TIMED TO CONNECT IN WHITLEY BAY TOWN CENTRE.

Suggestions for the MetroLink brand. The base would be to decrease the frequency of the current M1 to every 20 minutes between Shiney Row and Houghton Le Spring. Between Heworth and Penshaw Station Road would retain the current 10 minute frequency, but via an M1 and M4 operating every alternate 20 minutes.

The proposed M1 would run it's current route via Fencehouses to Houghton, but a new M4 service would run to Houghton via Herrington Burn and Newbottle. Although I've not done any timings, I'd look to time the two to interwork when terminating at Houghton.

On an evening and and alternate trips on a Sunday, an M4A service would run. This would run the current route between Heworth Metro and Cooks Hall, but instead of then turning onto Fallowfield Way, it would;

• Continue down Biddick Lane past the Arts Centre
  
• Left at the bottom of Biddick Lane
  
• Along Bonemill Lane/Fatfield Riverside
  
• Left at Fatfield Bridge and up Worm Hill bank
  
• Terminate at Fallowfield Way
  

M1: Heworth Metro - Lingey Lane/Heworth Drive - Follingsby Park Roundabout - Stephenson Road - Heworth Road/Usworth College - Concord Bus Station - Albany Way - Washington Galleries - Glebe - Parkway (South) - Biddick Lane - Fallowfield Way - Fatfield Bridge - Mount Pleasent/Station Road - Penshaw Station Road - Shiney Row/Chester Road Co-op - Boundary Houses - Bournmoor Rose Crescent - Fence Houses Front Street - Colliery Row/Newcastle Road - Houghton Le Spring Town Centre

M4 - Heworth Metro - Lingey Lane/Heworth Drive - Follingsby Park Roundabout - Stephenson Road - Heworth Road/Usworth College - Concord Bus Station - Albany Way - Washington Galleries - Glebe - Parkway (South) - Biddick Lane - Fallowfield Way - Fatfield Bridge - Mount Pleasent/Station Road - Penshaw Station Road - Shiney Row/Wheatshef - Herrington Burn - Philadelphia - Newbottle/Jolly Potter - Grasswell - Houghton Le Spring Town Centre

M4A - Heworth Metro - Lingey Lane/Heworth Drive - Follingsby Park Roundabout - Stephenson Road - Heworth Road/Usworth College - Concord Bus Station - Albany Way - Washington Galleries - Glebe - Parkway (South) - Washington Arts Centre - Bonemill Lane/North Biddick Club - Fatfield Bridge - Fallowfield Way

Mock up route map also attached.

Just thinking out loud with regard the changes to the Durham Road/Wrekenton/Kibblesworth changes and congestion in Low Fell, Birtley etc.

Is it worth utilising Saltwell Road, Belle Vue Bank and Beaconsfield Road a bit more?
Gateshead Council love playing with their traffic lights, so with a bit of work, the priorities outside The Cannon could enable this to work.
I would have suggested Dryden Road, but that is poor for parked cars.

Everything ploughs along Durham Road, but Saltwell Road is under utilised, Belle Vue Bank is barely touched, Beaconsfield Road was on a commercial route way back when, but just sees the odd scholars service these days.

Is there a viable route using a combination of those, but still serve Low Fell, Gateshead and Newcastle?

Newcastle - Gateshead Metro - Coatsworth Road - Saltwell Road - Belle Vue Bank - Low Fell and continues to destination?

Newcastle - Gateshead - Old Durham Road - Beaconsfield Road, Belle Vue Bank, Saltwell Road - Chowdene Bank - Beacon Lough - Old Durham Road - Gateshead - Newcastle