Since this is related to the designs, I'm all over this post...

PAST

"What's your favourite brand(s) and why?"
• "X9|X10": it effectively represented the 'speed of light' that both routes intended to provide, and conveyed that message perfectly.
• "The Castles Express": the large landmark illustrations complimented the style of the 21's "The Angel" livery, showing the similarities of the two.
• "The Red Kite": in my view, the large red kite stock photo towards the back of both sides represented the 'red kite country' in a much more effective way than the new "X-lines" version ever will.
• "Wear Xpress": as much as the former X5 wasn't an express route, the large 'X' "parcel tape" vinyls clearly emphasised the express nature of the X6 and X7 routes.
• "The Blaydon Racer": fantastic local brand. Included the Geordie folk song along the sides with illustrations of runners. Perfect.
• "Red Arrows": as good as the new "X-lines X1" brand looks, "Red Arrows" was iconic.


"What's your most hated brand(s) and why?"
• "Fast Cats": just, no.
• "The Highwayman": horrible colour scheme. Boring. Bleurgh.
• "Toon Link" (purple version): bye. Black, white and orange version was much more fitting with NUFC etc.

PRESENT

"What's your favourite brand(s) and why?"
• "Drifter": perfectly denotes the bus drifting along the coast, with necessary seaside illustrations and a unique route branding typeface that has been retained.
• "Tyne Valley Ten": love the green colour used on it and the buntings around the top. Again, the landmark illustrations outline where the services pass through.
• "Green Arrow": emphasises the eco-friendliness of the vehicles. Fantastic colour scheme. Leaf in the logo is a creative approach to address the low emissions given out.
• "X-lines X1", "X-lines X21" and "X-lines X45/X46/X47": the consistency in the "X-lines" brand is good. Simple but effective. Use of landmarks to show where the routes pass through. Rear branding informing drivers behind of the benefits from using the service(s).
• "Prince Bishops": this has to be kept on in the 2019 format. Unique, purple and gold colour scheme. Name relates to the noble, sovereignty historical status of Durham and now obviously the shopping centre.
• "Black Cats": love the red and white colour scheme, which is basically what Sunderland is renowned for with SAFC.

"What's your most hated brand(s) and why?"
• "X-lines X9/X10": the use of coaches is just a massive no to me. The chevron at the front is vomit-worthy.
• "Little Coasters": a boring and tacky, typical blue, replacement of "indiGo – North Tyne".
• the overuse of the 2019 fleet livery. Absolutely.

All my opinion of course, so won't expect anyone to agree.