I was looking for an older X-Lines thread so I could post this but since there is not, I'm making this new one for this question. I'm curious to know if X-Lines is very slowly coming to an end?
I seen a video of the X1 now being referred to the X1 now instead of X-Lines X1 and a photo of the X45 with the "GNE Red" branding on the interior screens.

With the current X-Lines that remain (that I'm aware of) X10/20/21/30/31/32/70/71/73. I haven't seen any updates on the X5/X15 for a while so I don't know if its still announced as the XLines X5/X15 or just the X5/X15 but It seems that the recent Streetdeck Ultroliner investments have obviously caused a shift with the X-Lines routes causing a big switch around of vehicles like the 2020 XLines Red Streetdecks off to Deptford and possible other movements such as the XLines Purple X10's moving to Consett (from what I've seen on threads here) so that will bin off the Purple XLines.

Then with the X20 joining up with the 65 I could see that being referred to the Prince Bishops X20 in the future so that will bin off the Pink/Blue XLines.
I don't know what the plans are with the X21. Whether that the Light Green Streetdecks remain or that the new Streetdecks will be a thing on it.

I highly doubt the X5/X15 (Yellow) will ever regain its branding unless some wild plan is in place to turn the Purple MMC's into Yellow.

So with that concluded from what is properly set to remain is the Dark Green Consett & Stanley XLines corridor and with how that gets allocated with a few Streetlites/200MMC's making cameos on the routes I wouldn't be surprised if that eventually causes the Dark Green network to then also be binned off.


Sorry for the waffle on but I was just curious to know if one of GNE's "Premium" brands is coming to an end.

Today saw me have another 4am start to head down to Loughborough Station and brave the awful cold and very wet weather to catch Class 43 HST's 43025 (Intercity Swallow) & 43060 (GNER) leaving Loughborough Brush following recent repaints.

43025/43060 were operating 5D25 0900 Loughborough Brush to Toton T.M.D. / 5J26 1322 Toton T.M.D. to Bury East Lancs Railway where they will be kept by The 125 Group.

43025 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...ateposted/

43060 - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...ateposted/

The other Class 43 HST that was repainted into Midland Mainline Livery (43048) was taken by lowloader to Nene Valley Railway (Peterborough) ahead of being on show at there upcoming Diesel Gala on 7th/8th March.

6955, 6970, 6974 and 6976 have all left Go North East destined for Plymouth and Cornwall

Anyone on here worked for Percy Main? I’m a driver at Stagecoach have been for 10 years but due to the route I am currently doing being lost to another operator and I’m not a fan of the other routes at the depot I’m thinking of a change. Riverside is closer to me but I don’t fancy working out or Gateshead interchange. The routes at Percy Main interest me more and I’m wondering if it’s worth it? 

Where do drivers get their breaks? 
Are they paid weekly like Stagecoach? 
Is it one big rota and you do all routes or is it like Stagecoach where each route has their own rota? 

Anyone able to respond would be much appreciated.

Looks like 19386 is back at Slatyford and 27817 also is

Well it seems 19386 has made its way back to Slatyford and 27817 is also there to

Interesting also. Given that the Evoras are losing their branding what happens to the rest of the fleet when we hardly have a standardised livery across the area. Don't tell its just a question of removing the vinyls as some of the vehicles look decidedly scruffy where this has happened.

The March 2026 contracts have been awarded in the majority of cases work is retained by the current operators. 
With the following changes:

18 from Stagecoach (Newcastle) to Northstar. 
32/32A from Stagecoach to GCT.
333 new service to GNE.
599 Northstar to GCT.
787 Stagecoach to GNE (route extended to Byker).
X46 GCT to Stanley Travel.

Having seen the internal communications on this, I thought it was useful to confirm the full 2026 order for ANE.

19 x E400 MMC DD (Ashington)
6 x E400 MMC DD (Blyth)
14 x BYD EV DD (Blyth)
14 x BYD EV DD (Durham) 
14 x Wrightbus Kite EV Midi (Darlington)
7 x Wrightbus Kite EV SD (Darlington)
6 x E400 MMC DD (Redcar)

28 x ADL E200 MMC 6.7 litre (TBC)
- Stockton have apparently been told they are getting 18 of these, but I understand that might have changed.
10 x Volvo Evora SD (TBC)

Total - 118. One third of the fleet.

(Edited to add missing 1).

It's always something that's had me thinking but is there any reason that we're consisting with these in 2026, when the vast majority of people just use an app or what not to find when the bus is due anyway?

imo there's loads of services around which aren't busy enough for a bus every 30 minutes; but could easily be busy enough for one for every 40 or 45 minutes or there's routes which are currently running around with 20/40 timetables which are just useless for anyone.

Some examples of these is the likes of the X45 and was X46 to Consett, could these not be both every 40 minutes which would combine to be every 20 minutes. Similar with the X30/X31 to Stanley.

For hourly routes, stuff like the Arriva 56 in Durham which would probably be ideal at every 45 minutes or even the X14/X15/X16/X18/X20 all being all every 40 minutes; continuing with the current every 2 hours to Berwick (every third bus instead of 2) combining to every 20 minutes along the Coast to Newcastle and every 10 minutes from Morpeth to Newcastle.

Surely for a punter a more frequent services is more important, than it being every 07 Past or whatever but for whatever reason they're just being not done?