Consultation now available to read and view. Nothing major to see but the odd one is the 356 will follow every other bus into Whitley Bay 

https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/share-your...h-tyneside

How can passengers possibly comment on major changes to the 307/9 without them saying what the actual changes are

Beyond useless

"355/356
To provide move direct links into Whitley Bay, we are proposing to omit Marden in both directions on service 356, with the route changed to travel along Hillheads Road and Marden Road between Whitley Bay and the Foxhunters"

One assumes that GNE are proposing to omit Monkseaton (not Marden!) - Doesn't bode well when they don't even know where they currently serve.

Not one bit of that makes sense. How you make comparable trips on the 94...

They don't serve the same places, at all.

(insert link) is a new type of link for me (on the survey).

(22 Dec 2025, 5:48 pm)Storx wrote Not one bit of that makes sense. How you make comparable trips on the 94...

They don't serve the same places, at all.

(insert link) is a new type of link for me (on the survey).

My interpretation was that the short morning 94's Gateshead-Team Valley would start at Newcastle replacing the 91.

(22 Dec 2025, 5:58 pm)Malarkey wrote My interpretation was that the short morning 94's Gateshead-Team Valley would start at Newcastle replacing the 91.

Aye could be, who knows. Quite an extension in journey time that though.

(22 Dec 2025, 5:44 pm)tynesider wrote "355/356
To provide move direct links into Whitley Bay, we are proposing to omit Marden in both directions on service 356, with the route changed to travel along Hillheads Road and Marden Road between Whitley Bay and the Foxhunters"

One assumes that GNE are proposing to omit Monkseaton (not Marden!) - Doesn't bode well when they don't even know where they currently serve.

I find it odd that they are sending another bus that way via Whitley Bay Ice Rink. They give a road a bus service and go nah just walk to the closest stop

Beginning of the end for the 352 i reckon, also why does Hillheads need another bus, they already have the 54,57A,308,309,317

(22 Dec 2025, 7:13 pm)V514DFT wrote Beginning of the end for the 352 i reckon, also why does Hillheads need another bus, they already have the 54,57A,308,309,317

To be fair the services along there are shocking nowadays. 

Only really the 308/309/317 and two of them go the same. 

Probably one of the corridors in the North East with the biggest reduction in the last 10 year. 

It's to save time though tbh to try and deal with delays.

(22 Dec 2025, 5:38 pm)Ambassador wrote How can passengers possibly comment on major changes to the 307/9 without them saying what the actual changes are

Beyond useless

My money will be the 307 & 309 interworking on Saturdays with a PVR of 15 and layover in North Shields / Blyth.

Also, my thinking for possible changes to the late journeys

- 2130 & 2230 309 terminate in Whitley Bay

- 2345 309 changed to 307 termimating on Norham Road

You’d have thought a drop in at Cobalt might be an idea as well if youre making changes to the 307/9

I can accept the 6.09 X39 going, it would be better if it was retimed to 5.30 to catch more shift ends vs 6pm

I think the team at GNE do a fantastic job, and these changes look sensible and well thought out. Some fairly serious grass touching needed on here, let’s not be silly and remember that the slander you put on here gets back to real people. Give them a chance.

That said, the potential loss of the 352 would be a shame I think.

(22 Dec 2025, 8:42 pm)S4agg3rHP wrote I think the team at GNE do a fantastic job, and these changes look sensible and well thought out. Some fairly serious grass touching needed on here, let’s not be silly and remember that the slander you put on here gets back to real people. Give them a chance.

That said, the potential loss of the 352 would be a shame I think.

I agree, whenever anyone criticises the commercial department at GNE I often find myself screaming at my screen "Leave the Laird alone, he's trying his best". 

I also think Uncle Nigel and Brother Ben are exactly the kind of people you'd want at the helm in an environment where there is an insurgency of evil little upstart operators, chipping away at the customer base GNE have built up through years of inertia. By protecting their revenue, they're safeguarding the jobs of the future. And, drivers, the next time pay negations stall and strike action looks, don't blame Nice Nigel and Benevolent Ben, blame the barbarians at the gate with their new fangled bus services, depriving GNE of capital to pay you all fairly. 

And if in doubt: email maba.

(22 Dec 2025, 8:42 pm)S4agg3rHP wrote I think the team at GNE do a fantastic job, and these changes look sensible and well thought out. Some fairly serious grass touching needed on here, let’s not be silly and remember that the slander you put on here gets back to real people. Give them a chance.

That said, the potential loss of the 352 would be a shame I think.

How is anything that’s been said slander? Absolute nonsense.

In their own words they’re making significant changes to the timetable of a very popular service and asking people to comment online without providing any actual detail. If you think that’s a fantastic job then I dread to think what’s a bad one…

(22 Dec 2025, 9:30 pm)Ambassador wrote How is anything that’s been said slander? Absolute nonsense.

In their own words they’re making significant changes to the timetable of a very popular service and asking people to comment online without providing any actual detail. If you think that’s a fantastic job then I dread to think what’s a bad one…

Took the words right out of my mouth, he sounds like a GNE brown noser to me, its a forum, it encourages discussion at the end of the day, most of what is said on here isnt slander, the would be discussion if it were any of the other operators

(22 Dec 2025, 9:28 pm)MurdnunoC wrote I also think Uncle Nigel and Brother Ben are exactly the kind of people you'd want at the helm in an environment where there is an insurgency of evil little upstart operators, chipping away at the customer base GNE have built up through years of inertia. By protecting their revenue, they're safeguarding the jobs of the future. And, drivers, the next time pay negations stall and strike action looks, don't blame Nice Nigel and Benevolent Ben, blame the barbarians at the gate with their new fangled bus services, depriving GNE of capital to pay you all fairly. 

And if in doubt: email maba.

I think GNE have bigger problems than a few upstart companies.

If the Coast Road Agreement is coming to an end, Arriva have 31 vehicles on order and could easily divert resource to wipe GNE's Percy Main operation out.

All it would take is the 306/308 restored to pre-covid frequency and the 308 re-routed via Battle Hill Drive - meaning a 7/8 minute frequency vs GNE's 10 minute frequency and a quicker route missing High Farm. There's no commercial room for 'both' operators to be running separate 7-8 minute frequencies along the Coast Road in the current climate like before covid.

I have to laugh at the stuff about the Coast Road. They are having to be deliberately coy about what they want to do - so as not to tip Arriva off! So much for partnership working!

Also, re the 91. That's a lot of words to say the service is being totally withdrawn in the mornings apart from one trip.

(22 Dec 2025, 9:55 pm)L469 YVK wrote I think GNE have bigger problems than a few upstart companies.

If the Coast Road Agreement is coming to an end, Arriva have 31 vehicles on order and could easily divert resource to wipe GNE's Percy Main operation out.

All it would take is the 306/308 restored to pre-covid frequency and the 308 re-routed via Battle Hill Drive - meaning a 7/8 minute frequency vs GNE's 10 minute frequency and a quicker route missing High Farm. There's no commercial room for 'both' operators to be running separate 7-8 minute frequencies along the Coast Road in the current climate like before covid.

The last thing we want is anymore buses along Battle Hill Drive what we really need is an express service like what the 44 did until the decimation of services in 2010. the 306 from Marden is an absolute joke taking the best part of an hour to get to Newcastle.

Looks like proposed timetables have been added to the page

(Yesterday, 12:31 pm)L469 YVK wrote Looks like proposed timetables have been added to the page

Two 94 journeys to start from Newcastle. Whats the point in that. Why not keep it the 91. This is the most confusing change ever. Yeah withdrawn the 91 and replace it with another service number

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Also if im not mistaken. They seem to be withdrawing the 91 on an evening as well as no timetable shows it running anymore

The 309 won't be running to Blyth for much longer if they go ahead with that timetable.

It's running 4 minutes behind the 308 towards Newcastle (at the Blyth end), and 5 minutes behind the 308 towards Blyth (at the Newcastle end) and takes longer, there's literally no reason for anyone to use it and Cobalt alone doesn't warrant 3 buses an hour to/from Blyth and Whitley.

Either the planners are completely stupid, or it's managed decline. It's not like the 308/309 are exactly a roaring success between NT Hospital and Blyth, as it is.

(Yesterday, 1:50 pm)Storx wrote The 309 won't be running to Blyth for much longer if they go ahead with that timetable.

It's running 4 minutes behind the 308 towards Newcastle (at the Blyth end), and 5 minutes behind the 308 towards Blyth (at the Newcastle end) and takes longer, there's literally no reason for anyone to use it and Cobalt alone doesn't warrant 3 buses an hour to/from Blyth and Whitley.

Either the planners are completely stupid, or it's managed decline. It's not like the 308/309 are exactly a roaring success between NT Hospital and Blyth, as it is.

Is the partnership 100% being broken up with Arriva though? If so, Arriva would be in prime position to step in and go back to pre-covid levels of service on the 306/308 with both via Battle Hill Drive which would stand well against the 307 & 309.

There's still a big market on Saturdays along the Coast Road for a frequent service especially at busy times including when big events, matches etc are on.

If Arriva retook the Coast Road, I could see something like the following happening with GNE's services.

- 97/97A re-introduced every 15 minutes, doing same as 301 MetroCentre-Whickham-Newcastle, then via Coast Road & High Farm to either Hadrian Park or Cobalt & Whitley Bay every 30 mins each.

- 301 curtailed in Gateshead or possibly merged with something like the 57.

- Section of 307 between North Shields and Hadrian Park merged into the 340/341, with direct links from Meadowell and parts of West Chirton and Norham Road to Newcastle withdrawn.

(Yesterday, 3:51 pm)L469 YVK wrote Is the partnership 100% being broken up with Arriva though? If so, Arriva would be in prime position to step in and go back to pre-covid levels of service on the 306/308 with both via Battle Hill Drive which would stand well against the 307 & 309.

There's still a big market on Saturdays along the Coast Road for a frequent service especially at busy times including when big events, matches etc are on.

If Arriva retook the Coast Road, I could see something like the following happening with GNE's services.

- 97/97A re-introduced every 15 minutes, doing same as 301 MetroCentre-Whickham-Newcastle, then via Coast Road & High Farm to either Hadrian Park or Cobalt & Whitley Bay every 30 mins each.

- 301 curtailed in Gateshead or possibly merged with something like the 57.

- Section of 307 between North Shields and Hadrian Park merged into the 340/341, with direct links from Meadowell and parts of West Chirton and Norham Road to Newcastle withdrawn.

If you're wanting to do that, you may aswell just bring back the 58 and extend that through, i do agree with the 301 being curtailed though, 97/97A (or whatever you wanna call it) better off operating as Circles which in turn partially sorts the 91 problem out, also sending the 58 through opens up more links, as for the 307, it wouldnt work, by all means withdraw it from Hadrian Park, but i'd then send the 309/310(307) via Selby Gardens, then the 311 serves Mullen Road on its own to Hadrian Park, but as GNE are wanting to reduce PVR's, none of this will happen anytime soon

(Yesterday, 3:51 pm)L469 YVK wrote Is the partnership 100% being broken up with Arriva though? If so, Arriva would be in prime position to step in and go back to pre-covid levels of service on the 306/308 with both via Battle Hill Drive which would stand well against the 307 & 309.

There's still a big market on Saturdays along the Coast Road for a frequent service especially at busy times including when big events, matches etc are on.

If Arriva retook the Coast Road, I could see something like the following happening with GNE's services.

- 97/97A re-introduced every 15 minutes, doing same as 301 MetroCentre-Whickham-Newcastle, then via Coast Road & High Farm to either Hadrian Park or Cobalt & Whitley Bay every 30 mins each.

- 301 curtailed in Gateshead or possibly merged with something like the 57.

- Section of 307 between North Shields and Hadrian Park merged into the 340/341, with direct links from Meadowell and parts of West Chirton and Norham Road to Newcastle withdrawn.

Seems like it as it's every 3/7 minutes again heading towards Newcastle. Ironically the Arriva bus leading. 

Truthfully if I was GNE I'd be tempted to curtail the 309 short at Whitley Bay or even New York and instead extend the 356 through to Blyth with the eventual aim that it'll serve the massive new Murton Gap development. 

It keeps the unique parts of the 309 and removes the deckers running with barely on between Whitley and Blyth and opens some new links in other areas. Heck you could probably up the 356 to every 30 minutes using the same PVR and drop the 355.

ive spotted the change on the 307 /309

The last 307 has been moved to 2300 from the current 2305 from Newcastle

the 309 at 2345 is withdrawn as is the 2300 307 from North Shields.

The 2345 309 always has passengers and a decent loading on a weekend too

A lot of workers get the bus heading home as well as supporting the local community.

I do agree though that terminating the Current last 309 from Whitley Bay to New York or change the number to 307 and terminate at Verne Road Junction or simply have the Destination Percy Main Depot as there is a stop outside the depot.

Pulling this last 309 (2345 service) causes great problems especially Football as you have 52k potentially losing an extra 80 spaces to get people home

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The 91 service is always busy from Team Valley to Newcastle at 1611 1711

As these are not a Nexus secured service the problem is it is operated from Washington Depot

I am not sure what they operate prior to the 91 tho but I think one of them goes onto the X1

One of them goes onto the X1A to Picktree Village, believe same bus also has a St Roberts of Newminister Scholars attached before going onto the 91

(Yesterday, 9:54 pm)DaveFromUpNorth wrote ive spotted the change on the 307 /309

The last 307  has been moved to 2300 from the current 2305 from Newcastle

the 309 at 2345 is withdrawn as is the 2300 307 from North Shields.

The 2345 309 always has passengers and a decent loading on a weekend too

A lot of workers get the bus heading home as well as supporting the local community.

I do agree though that terminating the Current last 309 from Whitley Bay to New York or change the number to 307 and terminate at Verne Road Junction or simply have the Destination Percy Main Depot  as there is a stop outside the depot.

Pulling this last 309 (2345 service) causes great problems  especially Football  as you have 52k  potentially losing an extra 80 spaces to get people home

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With the last 308 now at 2325, it wouldn't be the end of the world if the last bus at 2345 ran as a 307 instead terminating at Norham Road. That used to be the case with the 310 pre March 2023 running at 2330. The current 2345 journey does get fairly good loads dropping off at High Farm and Battle Hill Drive.