New Quaylink Service In Operation

Newcastle and Gateshead's popular, bright-yellow Quaylink bus service has narrowly escaped being axed and is now connecting thousands more people to the Ouesburn Valley, the Quayside and Newcastle city centre.

The Quaylink’s future hung in the balance when the local authorities withdrew funding for it earlier this year. The very authorities that are desperate to take over all of the bus services in the Tyne & Wear area. However, bus company Go North East stepped-in to save the service and has extended its reach and upgraded it.

The buses have been given a fresh, eye-catching make over and new destinations have been added to improve the service. Residents of the wider-Gateshead area and those living in Great Park and Gosforth are among those set-to benefit from new stops added to the Quaylink routes. This is a good example of how an experienced operator can use their skills to develop and improve services rather than saying 'we can't afford it' as the local authorities have done in this case. 
If they can't afford to run Quaylink how could they keep all the other services going if they are given the approval for a Quality Contract? .. maybe by charging their ratepayers more and increasing fares?

Q1 and Q2 buses now link Windy Nook, Felling Square, Heworth, Leam Lane, Springwell, Wrekenton and Gateshead Town Centre with Gateshead Quayside, Newcastle city centre and Central Station. 

Q3 now link Great Park, Regent Centre, Gosforth High Street and Newcastle city centre with the Theatre Royal, Guildhall, Law Courts, Ouseburn Valley, Hoults Yard, St Peters Basin and Spillers Quay. 

Quaylink buses run up to every 15 minutes during the day, and every 30 minutes in the evening.

The Quaylink is a vital service for many commuters getting to work, and also to tourists wanting to access all the best attractions Newcastle and Gateshead have to offer.

Managing director of Go North East, Kevin Carr said: “Every great city needs a reliable, frequent bus that links all its major attractions and in Newcastle and Gateshead, that is the Quaylink.

“We know that the Quaylink is a vital public service within the city centre and Quayside which is why we are investing in ensuring it is even better and here to stay.

“The Ouesburn Valley is becoming increasingly popular thanks to attractions including Seven Stories and The Cluny but parking there is limited so the Quaylink is really important for visitors accessing it from Newcastle and Gateshead."