Quaylink

Quaylink (stylised as QuayLink) is a bus service in Tyne and Wear, England, operated by Go North East under contract to Newcastle and Gateshead Councils and Nexus.

Quaylink links both the Newcastle and Gateshead Quayside area of the River Tyne with the centres of Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead and to the other local public transport bus, metro and rail modes. The service provides transport for local residents and for the users of the various tourist attractions of the Quayside, and for night time users of the many Quayside bars and restaurants.

The Quaylink service was introduced as a high quality public transport service for the redeveloped and expanding Quayside area, which, although extremely close to Newcastle and Gateshead town centres, were either not served, or not well served, by conventional bus transport, and dominated by car usage. The Quayside roads are also not located on any of the traditional bus routes.

The service was originally operated with accessible hybrid diesel-electric buses with a distinctive appearance, enhanced by a special yellow livery. They were replaced in August 2010 by new low-emission diesel buses.

History
In June 2002, Newcastle and Gateshead councils and Nexus invited tenders for operation of a proposed Tyne Quayside Link, and for manufacture of eight alternatively-fuelled buses for a Quayside Transit System. The total project, scheduled for launch in 2004, would cost £5m, with £3m coming from the local transport plan, £1m from regeneration funds for Gateshead, and £1m from the Quayside developers. As well as new buses, the project involved the construction of a bus lane and improvements to some bus stops, making them fully accessible.

The Quaylink service was launched on 22 July 2005 as a week-long free shuttle service to coincide with the 2005 Tall Ships Race, with the full service commencing on 29 July 2005. Prior to launch, all ten buses were pictured on the Quayside with local dignitaries and partner representatives.

The service cost £8m to set up and initially passenger numbers were low; carrying just 11,000 passengers a week. But ridership increased, and by 31 May 2007 the Quaylink services had carried 1 million passengers

Following development of the Ouseburn valley, on 3 September 2007 the Q2 service was extended to the St Peter's Basin area to the east

On 18 July 2010 operations transferred to Go North East under a five year contract. It was announced that the hybrid vehicles used on the route would be replaced by new diesel buses owing to their difficulty coping with hills on the route. On 10 August 2010, new Optare Versa single-deckers were introduced to the route.

Routes
QuayLink operates as two routes, Q1 and Q2. Both routes share a common north/south section in Newcastle city centre, from the Theatre Royal at the north end, down Grey Street to the Newcastle bank of the Tyne at the Guildhall. At the Theatre Royal end, Q1 continues to Central Station, Q2 continues to Haymarket. At the Tyne end, Q2 proceeds along the Newcastle Quayside, with a long one way section meaning outbound buses proceed through the nearby inland streets, and returning buses travel along the Quayside front. Q1 proceeds over the Tyne on the Swing Bridge, and along the Gateshead Quayside, before turning south to Gateshead.

Q1

 * Central Station
 * Grainger Street
 * Theatre Royal
 * Grey Street
 * Dean Street
 * Newcastle Guildhall
 * Over the Swing Bridge
 * The Sage (north side)
 * The Baltic Centre
 * The Sage (south side)
 * Gateshead High Street
 * Gateshead Interchange

Q2

 * Haymarket bus station
 * Newcastle Civic Centre
 * John Dobson Street
 * Laing Art Gallery
 * Theatre Royal
 * Grey Street
 * Dean Street
 * Newcastle Guildhall
 * Quayside (road)
 * Law Courts
 * Ouseburn (eastbound via Byker Bank and Walker Road, westbound via Quayside)
 * St. Peters Basin

Vehicles
From its launch until July 2010, the QuayLink services used ultra low emission hybrid gas-turbine/electric vehicles, with a markedly quiet ride. The vehicles were Designline Olymbuses, from New Zealand. An initial vehicle was imported by Stagecoach. It arrived by sea in October 2004 and toured the country in their house colours on proving trials until April 2005. The bus fleet was added to, totalling 10 vehicles, which operated from the Walkergate depot. The vehicles were substantially modified for operation in the UK, notably using a leaf door design over the plug design. While the buses were double doored, the middle door was only provided for wheelchair access. Two Dennis Darts were used as spare buses.

When the route's contract came up for renewal in summer 2010, it was decided that the Olympuses should be replaced because of difficulties coping with the hilly nature of the route. Go North East took over operation of the route in July 2010, and conventional buses were used on the route for the first three weeks. Nine new Optare Versa single-deckers, which Go North East and Newcastle City Council say are more environmentally friendly that the hybrid vehicles, replaced them from 10 August 2010. These vehicles feature increased seating capacity, information screens and audio announcements. Real-time information has also been provided at bus stops on the route.