(04 Aug 2022, 7:49 pm)col87 wrote Because of Go North constant messing about first Darlington then Hartlepool have lost Go North East completely despite both having had a service of some sort going back to the 1930s at least. The X6 pretty much had the same problem as the X10 and X1 in that they was only a few minutes between that and what was then the X5. Add in the fact it was an exact copy of the 23 route between the Marina and Peterlee and it was asking for trouble despite at least 3 other ways it could have left Hartlepool by before the coast road up to Blackhall.  I actually went to Seaham on it and it was a decent ride but it seemed like it was set up to fail they was absolutely no promotion the service at all if I wasn’t an enthusiastic on here I would have just assumed they where just putting solos on the X5.  That’s another thing it wonder the 55 went it was constantly getting messed about with. Since it started in 2006 up till 2016 it had very little in changes possibly a better name than fast cats as  it took forever but it worked ok. Then within 3 years it had had 3 different service numbers was constantly getting messed about with and they messed about with other services to compete with it. It worked fine as the X35 then they changed it to the X5 which made some sense so they could us the same brand then it got changed again to the 55 with a 55A for a short while as well.  

Let’s not forgot the mess they have made with the X10 either.  

Worked fine as the X9 X10 working together with a combined 30 minute frequency.  So of course they had to then mess about with it. Constantly taking the X9 off then bringing it back. Then bringing them awful coaches in so it was made difficult for people with disabilities. Now combining the X9 and X10 both which were often full anyway into one service adding another 15 - 20 minutes to it and then reducing so it will be impossible to enjoy the ride. 

Basically a big eff you to anyone south of Peterlee despite been go north east they really don’t care about a large part of it although saying that they don’t care much about East Durham either ( apart from the begging bowl to Durham country council that is ). 
let’s not the whole farce over the X84 X85 or is it 684 and 685 as it’s probably by the time I have managed to keep up or the constant axing of services.
 Do you know which brand the service is this week although it don’t matter because a Tyne Valley 10 will probably be having a day out on the Angel 21 while an Angel 21 will be travelling down to Middlesbrough on Xlines X10 while one of the Xlines X10 is pretending it’s an East  Gateshead Orbit or whatever name it is this week. City Rider 56 will be board so it will pretend it’s a Prince Bishop while the Venture will have a day as Peterlee whatever brand it it today.  Providing of course they even have enough drivers left to actually drive them or they not getting painted into the latest brand idea.  
The management won’t care though they will be to busy saying we can’t be bothered running this service use Arriva instead then be wondering why passenger numbers are falling.  That is the exact state of Go North east at the minute.

You've summed up basically everything wrong with GNE, Personally I do like branding services, and I could say I would want every service branding, but obviously not every service will be, however if you are going to brand a service you are going to try and stick the allocated buses on it, I mean Deptford is the worse, its a disgrace. Really there should never be a branded bus on another route except in rare circumstances, if you have a branded route it should not interwork with any other service on a Sunday, I would allow evenings. However if a branded bus isn't available a Corporate Spare buses should be used or paint an extra bus as a dedicated spare e.g 60 5369 or 76.