(06 Apr 2013, 2:15 pm)dave2906 wrote X11 (MONDAY - SATURDAY EVERY 2 HOURS) SERVING: NEWCASTLE - GATESHEAD - HEWORTH - TESTO'S ROUNDABOUT - PETERLEE SLIP ROAD - MIDDLESBROUGH BUS STATION - NORTHALLERTON POST OFFICE -THIRSK KIRKGATE - EASINGWOLD THREE HORSE SHOE - SKELTON BLACKSMITHS ARMS - CLIFTON PARK - YORK RAILWAY STATION - LEEDS CITY BUS STATION

Just put that route in to Google Maps - 131mi / 3 hours 17 mins. So it would still require at least 5 buses to run I reckon?

I don't think it'd serve much purpose having a route like that, as south of Middlesbrough bus station, it's going to be the only GNE service you will see, so I doubt they'd sell anything other than single/return fares. I think what they would need to charge for a single or return fare any way, you might as well jump on the train - 1 hour to York, or 1.5 to Leeds.

There's the logistical side of things too. At the rate GNE's buses seem to break down these days, it'd not be cheap to recover potentially 131 miles down the road. How would they get a replacement out too?

(06 Apr 2013, 5:18 pm)Daniel wrote Further investment into the "Tyne Tees Xpress" brand is incredibly unlikely, I know that - despite GNE's ability to use them on another service if investment was made... But I think that a coach (which was wheelchair accessible) would be more suitable.

I agree. It'd be a bigger money spinner for them to use coaches too. They could just run it as a coach service rather than a 'local' bus service, and wouldn't have to accept concessionary passes - similar to the X23/X90 'Commuter' services that they used to run. Without trying to sound like I'm alienating CT pass holders (because I certainly don't mean to!), I think it would eliminate the capacity issues too..