(11 Nov 2017, 10:11 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote Yes, that makes sense. I didn't know there was an X77/X78/X79 as I only used the X87/X88 from Haymarket. I don't remember getting any notice of the move. I just ended up at Eldon Square instead of Haymarket in around 2010 or so. I would if anyone has an old timetable from the Haymarket days of the X87/X88. The numbering makes little sense: X34, X47, X77, X78, X79, X82, X87, X88.  Off topic slightly, it seems off GNE hasn't moved the Cobalt services to Eldon Square, they look silly in the Arriva bus station. Also, Quaylink should all be in Eldon Sqaure. X34 should join all the other expressed in Eldon Square too! Perhaps sharing the X82 stand if possible.

The service numbers hark back to the Busways, and in many cases PTE, days.  E.g.

X34 replaced much of the old South Shields number 34, extended through to Newcastle.

X47 replaced the old 47 which was introduced in the early 90s (and variously also included the 46/48/86 between Kingston Park and Newcastle).

X77/X78/X79 replaced the old Ponteland group – where we used to have (at various times) 75/75A/76/76A/76E/M76/X76/77/77A/77E/78/78E/79/79A.

The X82 is the last surviving part of the old 82/X82/83 group, where the 83 served Heddon on the Wall rather than Throckley.

The X87 & X88 have carried those numbers for decades – previously linked with the 87 &  88 which had the same destination but a slower route (in theory).