(21 Aug 2013, 4:45 pm)Daniel wrote Why was the X2 withdrawn?
The real reason was so the Citaros could be put to use on providing a 10 minute frequency on the X1 - GNE's model of giving a high frequency on one route at the expense of an entire service. Great if you live in Houghton, Easington Lane etc, unlucky if you live anywhere on the Chester Road corridor.
I remember contacting GNE via Open Line on this at the time as the X2 was well used and provided a direct link for commuters and shoppers. Waste of time as they didn't give a monkeys about providing (at that time) no direct express service between the two biggest cities in their operating area. They seemed to think the fact that the journey was still possible by getting two buses (conveniently meaning singles/returns were pointless so everyone needed to buy a GNE Buzzfare) meant overall this was an improvement. After all, who wouldn't want to get a slower, stopping service, get off half way and wait around outside a shopping centre to change to another bus. And they wonder why people drive to work.