(10 Jul 2014, 7:39 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote If GNE could get ten Mercs together and operate two express services between Newbiggin and Newcastle in a similar format to the old X31 and X32 (every 30 via North Seaton (no evenings and Sundays) or Wansbeck Hospital (every 60 evenings and Sundays) then every 15 minutes combined to Newcastle calling at Stakeford, Bedlington Stn, Bedlington Red Lion, Hartlands then as an extra bonus non stop to Newcastle from there), they could make a good go of it. Obviously a Merc wouldn't compare with Sapphire but with a journey saving of 10 - 15 minutes fron Newbiggin and a happy medium of speed and frequency from Ashington as opposed to the hourly X20 despite the X20 being faster but two expresses being faster than the X21 / X22, they could do well.
With Sapphire E400's entering service? Don't think so.