(07 Jul 2019, 9:56 am)big macI agree with the comments about the dilution of the Xlines services by including the 45/46/47 in them. Surely to count as an express route it should be limited stop on large sections if not all of the route? The renumbered x45 will still serve all stops between Consett and Metrocentre. On that principle, they could have added the 10 in to Xlines as its basically the same thing. Stop at every stop then non stop from metrocentre to Newcastle.
I hate to say it, but for me X-Lines has become GNE's equivalent of Arriva's Max brand. Unnecessarily renumbering services to have the X-prefix, something which has always been used to distinguish an express service, just so they can fit services in with the new 'brand I.D'. From a marketing perspective it is quite a good one, the average passengers get upgraded vehicles and are lured into thinking their bus is quicker, but I think the reality for those a lot more in the know about bus routes and services such as members of this forum is that it seems a little unimaginative, is arguably inapplicable to some of the services, and compared to GNE's previous brand history, is a bit bland.
(07 Jul 2019, 9:56 am)big macI agree with the comments about the dilution of the Xlines services by including the 45/46/47 in them. Surely to count as an express route it should be limited stop on large sections if not all of the route? The renumbered x45 will still serve all stops between Consett and Metrocentre. On that principle, they could have added the 10 in to Xlines as its basically the same thing. Stop at every stop then non stop from metrocentre to Newcastle.
I hate to say it, but for me X-Lines has become GNE's equivalent of Arriva's Max brand. Unnecessarily renumbering services to have the X-prefix, something which has always been used to distinguish an express service, just so they can fit services in with the new 'brand I.D'. From a marketing perspective it is quite a good one, the average passengers get upgraded vehicles and are lured into thinking their bus is quicker, but I think the reality for those a lot more in the know about bus routes and services such as members of this forum is that it seems a little unimaginative, is arguably inapplicable to some of the services, and compared to GNE's previous brand history, is a bit bland.
