(07 Jun 2015, 8:55 pm)JakeSavage Ah well, that'll only require another 23 buses

(07 Jun 2015, 9:13 pm)Dan Aye, nee bother... Stagecoach will be able to magic those up in a jiffy?

(07 Jun 2015, 8:55 pm)JakeSavage Ah well, that'll only require another 23 buses

(08 Jun 2015, 6:40 pm)Andreos1 X34 and E's - increase spec and route, so they offer passenger connections and integration.

Various E services, extending down the main southern Sunderland arteries of the A183, A690 and Ryhope Road.
Continuing current routes into Shields.

X34 - extend to Seaburn, offering connections with the Seaburn E's.

Through tickets would be available.

(08 Jun 2015, 6:43 pm)Michael That's a good idea, would allow better links using only Stagecoach buses.... the current X34 starts/ends in a daft place (Horsley Hill)

(08 Jun 2015, 6:47 pm)Andreos1 The PVR shouldn't see too much of an increase, if the Park Lane - X - Park Lane extension, is only extended 15 mins down the road (30min overall extension).
I reckon Horsley Hill - Seaburn could be done in a 15 min each way, but it would be tight and there would be lack of a layover.

(06 Jul 2015, 7:37 pm)Busman69 So how would that work? would it go from mats-Horsley Hill-Marsden-Seaburn-Marsden-Horsley Hill and then back towards Newcastle? Cause that seems like it would seriously increase journey times by some margin. If it were to extend to Sunderland too then that would be rather pointless as it would have to compete with the metro

(06 Jul 2015, 7:37 pm)Busman69 So how would that work? would it go from Marsden-Horsley Hill-Marsden-Seaburn-Marsden-Horsley Hill and then back towards Newcastle? Cause that seems like it would seriously increase journey times by some margin. If it were to extend to Sunderland too then that would be rather pointless as it would have to compete with the metro

(06 Jul 2015, 9:07 pm)ifm001 Does seem pointless doing Marsden - the hill- Marsden - whitburn - seaburn

Better idea would be to send alternate journeys from boldon towards seaburn via current route to ridgeway (south shields community school / king George school for non locals) forward up shields road to cleadon and then the existing 558 route to whitburn and seaburn.  SNE Will never withdraw the circular link around nook marsden and horsley hill. Its been that route for 15+ years now and is busy

(07 Jul 2015, 9:03 am)Andreos1 The loop can still remain - or it could be removed in part.

Option 1) - Current route/loop, but continues down Sunderland Road - Cleadon - Cleadon Lane etc (reverse towards Newcastle). This would see the route extend (in each direction) by approx 5mins between the Nook and Cleadon (using the 20/20a timetable) and 7mins  Cleadon, Whitburn and Seaburn (using 558 timetable).

Option 2) - Or they split at the Ridgeway, with one doing a short loop (in its current 15min circle) and back and the other going via King George Road and the Nook, Sunderland Road and onto Seaburn via Cleadon and Whitburn. This would omit The Ridgeway, as I feel the Nook is an important link. I reckon that will save 15mins in each direction, as opposed to option 1.

Option 3) - As Option 2, but operates in a circle of Seaburn (serving the Metro) and operates via Cleadon, Sunderland Road, Sea Road, Seaburn Metro, Fulwell, Sea Lane circle - return.

I don't think it needs to get dizzy around Marsden at all.

I also think it would continue to offer an alternative to the metro, just as it does now.
The location of Seaburn metro versus the location of the majority of local amenities, means the metro is only likely to win for those living close to it.
Just like it is, in the Boldons.

The only suggestion about extensions to Sunderland that were mentioned, were the E services and them offering cross city links - 15mins down the A183 (and back), 15mins down the A690 (and back) etc.

(07 Jul 2015, 2:53 pm)Malarkey What about this, few different alternatives.

X19 - South Shields - Town Hall - Westoe - Chichester - Dean Road - Tyne Dock - Newcastle Road A184/Leam Lane A194 (Non Stop) - Gateshead - Newcastle 

X33 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Boldon Cineworld - Boldon Asda - Cleadon - Whitburn - Seaburn - Roker - Wheatsheaf - Sunderland City Centre

X34 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Boldon Cineworld - Boldon Asda - Whiteleas Bridge - Harton Nook - Horsley Hill - Marsden - A183 Coast Road - South Shields

X35 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Boldon Cineworld - Boldon Asda - Biddick Hall - West Harton - Chichester - Westoe - Town Hall - South Shields

(07 Jul 2015, 2:53 pm)Malarkey What about this, few different alternatives.

X19 - South Shields - Town Hall - Westoe - Chichester - Dean Road - Tyne Dock - Newcastle Road A184/Leam Lane A194 (Non Stop) - Gateshead - Newcastle 

X33 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Boldon Cineworld - Boldon Asda - Cleadon - Whitburn - Seaburn - Roker - Wheatsheaf - Sunderland City Centre

X34 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Boldon Cineworld - Boldon Asda - Whiteleas Bridge - Harton Nook - Horsley Hill - Marsden - A183 Coast Road - South Shields

X35 - Newcastle - Gateshead - Boldon Cineworld - Boldon Asda - Biddick Hall - West Harton - Chichester - Westoe - Town Hall - South Shields

(07 Jul 2015, 8:09 pm)cbma06 The X33 suggestion is similar to what GNE did with an express service replacing daytime service 558 between Newcastle and Seaburn, and that ended up being withdrawn due to low patronage  and replaced by introducing the daytime 558 back.

Why does the express have to start from South Shields town centre for?, where does the passengers come from to get on the stagecoach express from south shields town centre?, passengers would have to come in from other stagecoach buses which connects onto service X34 to Newcastle along the route between Boldon Asda and Horsley Hill square. This is probably why stagecoach never put service X34 to Shields town centre.

(07 Jul 2015, 8:47 pm)ifm001 The reason why stagecoach never operated service X34 into south shields town centre originally was in order for those areas not served by metro to be able to direct to Newcastle without need to change Buses etc. However like other areas across all of Tyne and Wear there is scope for expansion and other services to be introduced.