Your guide to our service changes from Sunday 20 July 2025

3 weeks ago Thu 19th Jun 2025

Your guide to our service changes from Sunday 20 July

We’re introducing changes to our services across Derwentside, North Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland and South Tyneside from Sunday 20 July 2025. 

What’s new? 

  • Timetable and route changes will improve customers' journeys - these include improved connections from North Tyneside and Byker to Central Station in the morning peak, and more convenient arrival times for those working at the QE Hospital in Gateshead.
  • Service 1 (Whitley Bay – North Shields – Newcastle – Gateshead – Metrocentre) will be re-numbered to service 301.
  • Changes to our services between Whickham, Metrocentre and Metrocentre ASDA - services 643 and 644 will provide connections up to every 30 minutes Monday-Saturday off peak between Metrocentre Interchange and Metrocentre ASDA. The 301 (previously service 1) will no longer serve Metrocentre ASDA between Monday - Saturday and will instead operate via the Metroasis to Metrocentre Interchange.

How did feedback from customers influence these changes?  

Before finalising these service changes, we invited our passengers and stakeholders to share their feedback on the proposed routes and timetables.  Thank you very much to everyone who shared their thoughts, your feedback has had a positive impact on our plans:  

  • Service 301 (Whitley Bay – North Shields – Newcastle – Gateshead – Metrocentre): Thanks to consultation feedback, journeys from North Tyneside and Byker will stop at Newcastle Central Station before 09:45 on weekdays to improve connections to Newcastle College and Central Station from the east of the city.
  • Services 67 and 69 (Wardley – Winlaton/Metrocentre): We have made changes to the morning timetable so that bus arrivals at the QE Hospital Gateshead are more convenient for those starting their shift at the hospital.
  • Service X32 (Newcastle – Gateshead – Stanley): Following consultation feedback, we have decided not to change the route of service X32. This service will continue to serve Lobley Hill Estate South.
  • Service X21 (West Auckland – Bishop Auckland – Durham – Newcastle): We initially planned to withdraw service X21 from West Auckland but based on consultation feedback we will no longer be making this change.  
  • Service X5/X15 (Castleside – Consett – Lanchester – Durham): There will be earlier and later buses to and from Castleside on services X5 and X15

Summary of the changes  

The changes are detailed below, by area.

Derwentside
North Tyneside
Gateshead
Sunderland/South Tyneside

 

Derwentside (Consett/Stanley area)

North Tyneside

  • Service 1 will be renumbered to 301 (Whitley Bay – North Shields – Newcastle- Gateshead – Metrocentre): Passengers in Whitley Bay will benefit from a new early morning journey, departing at 06:31am, 30 minutes earlier than the current timetable. Journeys from North Tyneside and Byker will stop at Newcastle Central Station before 09:45 on weekdays to improve connections to Newcastle College and Central Station from the east of the city.  These journeys will operate between Newcastle City Centre and Gateshead via Redheugh Bridge. 

    Service 301 will however not serve Metrocentre ASDA Monday - Saturday daytimes and will instead operate via the Metro Oasis to Metrocentre Interchange. Services 643 and 644 will provide connections to ASDA at these times. Sunday journeys on service 301 will continue to  serve Metrocentre ASDA during shopping hours. A revised timetable will be introduced to improve punctuality. 

  • Service 9 (Sunderland – Jarrow):  Following Nexus contract changes, the Jarrow to North Shields section of route will be operated as a separate service- the 319, operated by Gateshead Central Taxis.

     

Gateshead

  • Service 1 will be renumbered to 301 (Whitley Bay – North Shields – Newcastle – Gateshead – Metrocentre): The 301 will no longer serve Metrocentre ASDA Monday - Saturday and will instead operate via the Metro Oasis to Metrocentre Interchange. Between approximately 10am and 4pm on Sundays, service 301 will continue to serve Metrocentre ASDA. The early morning journey from Sunniside to Newcastle will now operate as service 301A. There will also be minor timetable changes to improve punctuality. On Monday to Saturday daytimes (between around 9am and 3pm), services 643 and 644 will provide two buses an hour from Whickham, Swalwell and Metrocentre Interchange to Metrocentre ASDA.

     

  • Service N21 (Newcastle – Gateshead – Durham Night Bus): A revised timetable will be introduced to improve reliability. At Durham University the service will now terminate / start from Howlands Park and Ride site.

     

  • Service 27 (Newcastle – Gateshead – South Shields): There will be minor timetable changes for this service to improve punctuality at times of the day with high traffic congestion.

     

  • Service 49 | 49A (Gateshead – Metrocentre – Winlaton): There will be minor timetable changes for these services to improve punctuality at times of the day with high traffic congestion.

     

  • Service 51/52 (Gateshead – Leam Lane Circular): To enhance early morning links in east Gateshead, early journeys on the 52 will begin at Wrekenton instead of Leam Lane. There will also be revised changes to the timetable to improve punctuality.

     

  • Services 67/69 (Wardley- Winlaton – Metrocentre): Changes to the arrival times of some buses at the QE Hospital in the morning to better align with shift start times. Minor changes have also been made to the timetable.

     

  • Service 93 | 94 (Gateshead – Team Valley Circular): A revised timetable will be introduced to improve punctuality.  Our aim with these changes is to make this service more punctual and reliable at times of the day with high traffic congestion.

     

  • Service 96 (Gateshead – Lobley Hill – Metrocentre): There will be minor timetable changes for this service to improve punctuality at times of the day with high traffic congestion. There are no changes to the route or frequency of this service.

     

  • Service 643: Following Nexus contract changes, we will take over this service from Northstar, operating between Metrocentre, Metrocentre ASDA, Ikea, Whickham and Sunniside. Together with new service 644, these services will provide connections up to every 30 minutes, Monday-Saturday, off-peak between Metrocentre Interchange and Metrocentre ASDA.

     

  • New service 644: This service will operate Monday to Saturday daytimes from Metrocentre ASDA to Whickham, via Metrocentre Interchange and Swalwell. In Whickham, service 644 will operate a one-way loop via Front Street, Broom Lane, Whaggs Lane, Oakfield Road, Fellside Parkway, and Fellside Road.  

     

  • Services X30 | X31 | X32 (Stanley – Newcastle): There will be timetable changes for these services to improve punctuality at times of the day with high traffic congestion. 

     

Sunderland/South Tyneside

How can I stay up to date with the new timetables?  

Our new routes and timetables will begin on Sunday 20 July 2025. There are a few different ways to check if your usual journey will be affected and to plan your journey:  

  • The timetables are available on our website. To see the new timetables, change the date to the 21 July or later, then click 'update'.
  • Download the Go North East app to check fares, buy tickets and plan your journey. 
  • If you still have questions, please contact our customer service team on 0191 420 5050, available Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm.