Go North East announces bus service changes in North Tyneside

Bus operator Go North East has announced changes to services across North Tyneside, Newcastle and South East Northumberland, commencing on Sunday 23 March 2025.

The changes include the introduction of two new services and adjustments to timetables to improve reliability.

New service 356 combined with the existing service 355 will offer journeys every 30 minutes for passengers travelling between Newcastle and Forest Hall. Service 356 will improve links to key destinations, including North Tyneside Hospital.

Once every hour, the 356 route will extend to Whitley Bay from Forest Hall. This connection received positive feedback in Go North East’s consultation with passengers.

Go North East will also take over the operation of service 342, with changes to both the route and timetable from Wallsend to Kingston Park.

The service changes have been made following extensive consultation by Go North East with their customers and stakeholders.

The consultation feedback highlighted that service 352 between Cramlington and Newcastle provides a vital link for commuters, including those travelling to work at the Freeman Hospital.

Thanks to this feedback, Go North East will continue to operate this service during peak times on weekdays.

Feedback from the consultation has also led to the adjustment of several timetables to provide better connections to schools and other transport services.

Daniel Laird, Head of Commercial at Go North East, said:

“We are pleased to confirm our finalised plans for our network in North Tyneside, Newcastle and South East Northumberland.

“We are grateful to everyone who contributed to our consultation exercise; we have listened to your feedback and made several changes from our original proposals.

“These changes are designed to provide a more reliable and useful service for our customers. We look forward to welcoming customers on board the revised routes.”

The changes are summarised below, with full timetables available on the Go North East website.

Summary of the changes

Coaster 1 Whitley Bay-Metro Centre: Minor timetable changes to improve service reliability. Journeys to Whitley Bay on Sunday will terminate in the town centre and will no longer extend to Bournemouth Gardens (Band stand).

340/341 Wallsend-Hadrian Park: Service renumbered from 41 (340) and 41A (341). Minor timetable changes to improve reliability.

54 Newcastle-Whitley Bay: This evening/Sunday Nexus contract service has been taken over from Stagecoach by Go North East. Minor timetable changes.

Cobalt & Coast 307/309 Newcastle-Blyth/North Shields: Timetable changes to provide a more reliable service, along with Arriva services 306 and 308.

317 Wallsend-Whitley Bay: Minor timetable changes to improve service reliability.

NEW 342 Wallsend-Kingston Park: Go North East will take over the operation of this service from 23 March 2025. The route has been changed to operate from Wallsend to Kingston Park, with an amended timetable.

Nexus will reintroduce their service M71 to maintain links between Kingston Park and Newbiggin Hall. Additional 342 journeys will operate every hour Monday – Saturday daytime between Wallsend and Benton Rise. This will provide journeys up to every 30 minutes between Benton Rise and Wallsend Metro.

352 Newcastle-Cramlington: The timetable will be changed, with only peak commuter journeys operating on weekdays. Alternative services provided by Go North East and Stagecoach are available for most customers, including on improved services 342, 353, 354, 355 and new service 356.

353 North Shields-Cramlington: Timetable changes to improve service reliability.

354 Newcastle-North Shields: Timetable changes to improve service reliability.

NEW 355/356 Newcastle-Forest Hall-Whitley Bay: These services will provide journeys up to every 30 minutes between Newcastle and Forest Hall. Every hour, service 356 will also travel beyond Forest Hall to Whitley Bay via Killingworth, Murton Village, North Tyneside Hospital and Monkseaton. This new service will replace most of Nexus service 359, which will be withdrawn.

X39 Newcastle-Cobalt Park (peak times only): Minor timetable changes to improve reliability.

X78 Newcastle-Darras Hall (evenings): The contract for this service has been awarded to Stagecoach, who will operate the service from 25 March 2025.

Notes to editors

Go North East runs a network of bus routes across the North East region including Newcastle, Sunderland, Durham, and surrounding areas.

The Go-Ahead Group is one of the UK’s leading providers of public transport, enabling more than a billion passenger journeys each year on its bus and rail services. Go-Ahead places great importance on partnership, adopting a collaborative approach with governments, local communities and strategic partners; developing and operating services that create long-term value for all.