(30 Jan 2014, 5:31 pm)Dan wrote I'm inclined to suggest that I feel the X1 is also an express service. There is of course the X20, 27X, 58X, X66, X84/X85 and X88 too - all of which I'd consider to be express services.
Ultimately, I think it's what you're comparing it against - are you comparing it against other bus services in the area, other forms of transport, or just by the amount of stops it serves?
I was mainly looking at some kind of time lengths compared to full length routes for example:
X30/X31 between Stanley and Newcastle: 46 mins approx.
43/44/44A between Stanley and Newcastle: 55 mins approx.
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X0/X71 between Consett and Newcastle: 57 mins approx.
45/46 between Consett and Newcastle: 1hr 6 mins approx.
Looking at these 4 services in particular, the so called 'express' services are actually less than 10 mins faster in both cases and to go on top of that, services X30/X31/X70/X71 usually always get stuck in Bensham. And plus they aren't limited stop so they are normal stopping services.
Source: Timetables off the GNE website.