(11 Jul 2016, 10:05 am)palatine3833 wrote I'm not saying that they have to be identical. What I'm saying is, they don't have anything in common bar the Newcastle to Lobley Hill section. That was the reason we were given for the Highwayman being withdrawn, because it was 'too complicated'.
Both services operate between Newcastle, Gateshead, Lobley Hill and Metrocentre. Yes they do split off from eachother after Lobley Hill, as you have pointed out already, but the link between the routes is still present.
On a similar note, the 8 and 78 both fall under the 'Coast & Country' brand but after Chester-le-Street, the routes don't come together again until Sunderland. I suppose its different as it is grouping the Stanley to Sunderland services together but they certainly don't follow eachother anywhere near as much as the old Diamond routes, for example. I'm sure other brands will be similar.