Public Transport: Local Choices

With a variety of handy tools and great services available, it’s never been easier to travel around by public transport. New technology means you don’t have to wait around at bus stops, many buses and trains now have WiFi on board, cashless ticket options and more!

There are a number of bus services available from the new homes at Robinson Fields to and from locations including Newcastle centre, Whitley Bay, Wallsend, Cramlington and more! Local stops can be found on Rake Lane, just outside the development. As development progresses, there are plans to introduce further stops throughout the site, connecting to the wider Murton development zone and beyond.

The West Monkseaton Metro Station is also just a short journey away from Robinson Fields, and is easily accessed on foot, by bike or by bus. The station is on the Yellow Line, which runs between South Shields and St James via Whitley Bay. Metro services run every 12-15 minutes, seven days a week.

It’s also possible to change to the Green Line at South Gosforth (16 minutes on the Metro from West Monkseaton) for access to Sunderland, South Hylton and Newcastle Airport.

If your journey is over a slightly longer distance, travel by rail can be a great option! Newcastle Central Rail Station can be reached in around 50 minutes using the 308 bus service, just under 30 minutes using Metro, or 20 minutes by car, and is located on the East Coast Main Line. From here national, regional and commuter rail services can be taken to many destinations including Leeds, Manchester, Liverpool, London, Aberdeen and many more!

Key Local Bus Services

The following services are available from the stops on Rake Lane. To view more information on the timetable or route, simply click on the service number.

Service 308, operated by Arriva, runs between Whitley Bay and Newcastle. Services run every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday and every 30 minutes on Sunday.

Service 57A , operated by Arriva, runs between Cramlington and North Shields. Services run hourly, Monday to Sunday.

Service 317, operated by Go North East, runs between Wallsend and Whitley Bay. Services run every 30 minutes Monday to Sunday.

Service 309, operated by Go North East, runs between Newcastle and Whitley Bay. Services run every 20 minutes Monday to Saturday, and every 30 minutes on Sunday.

Planning your Journey

There are now a number of great options available for those looking to plan a journey by public transport. There’s no need to spend loads of time flicking through timetables to figure out which services work best for you – online journey planners can do that for you!

Our guide to planning a journey by public transport has everything you need to know, including links to some of the great online tools.

Paying for your Journey

Catching the bus or train no longer has to mean fumbling around for change before hopping on to pay the driver or conductor in a rush! There are so many different ways to pay for your journey now that you may feel a little spoilt for choice!

It’s also important to check that you aren’t paying too much. Whilst paying for single or return tickets is OK for occasional or one off journeys, those who travel more frequently by bus and/or rail can save some significant cash by choosing monthly or annual passes.

Check out our guide to ticket options in the local area for more information!

Real Time Information & Apps

Gone are the days of standing around waiting for your bus or train with little idea when it will turn up. Real time information makes it easy to find out exactly where your ride is at, helping you plan when to leave the house, office or coffee shop.

Bus operator apps have proved to offer a real step change when it comes to real time bus information. They display the exact location of your bus on a handy map, in a very similar style to the Uber app which many are now familiar with. If you are undertaking a journey by bus we’d advise that trying out an app is a must, and to help you out we’ve pulled together a handy guide to getting most from bus operator apps.

Support & Updates

Confused by timetables or just not sure which bus is best to catch? Did you know we can plan your journey for you?
Just let us know where you’re travelling to and we will provide you with an interactive journey plan that clearly sets out your options, with easy to follow, step by step instructions and a handy map.

Get in touch now to get support with your journey.

We’ve also put together a list of helpful Twitter feeds that will keep you up to date with any delays or services changes across the local area:

Stagecoach North East (@StagecoachNE)
Arriva North East (@ArrivaNorthEast)
Metro Travel News (@My_Metro)
Go North East (@gonortheast)
Network Rail (@networkrail)
Northumberland CC News (@N_landCouncil)

Nexus, Arriva and Go North East all have web pages devoted to giving service updates and information on any planned disruptions, view them here: