(08 Feb 2017, 6:55 pm)mb134 wrote To those who are posting about the brand being diluted and overused, a question: Does anyone who isn't an enthusiast actually care?

(08 Feb 2017, 6:06 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote This then gets me onto the 306/308, While its obvious the best service provision would've been Sapphire or Frequenta, Arriva have chose MAX as it's a " Premium " brand so can compete with GNE's offering on the same corridor, Without the hassle of Sapphire Trained Driver's, NSA's and Uniforms etc

(08 Feb 2017, 6:32 pm)peter wrote I suppose it is arguable that any service which did not have an "X" as part of the service number prior to going MAX saw the brand being stretched to incorporate it...Yet the 75/6 and 46 are really the only two examples of this to date. In theory Arriva should have stuck to the services they had already deemed worthy of the "X" as part of the route number to signify an "express" route (though I still use the word express loosely even so!)

Regardless, I do see the X46 as the threshold between using the brand appropriately as an identification of an express/interurban route and exploiting it for profitability (and thus branding routes for the sake of it!)

(08 Feb 2017, 9:35 pm)James101 wrote I'm sure everyone realises renumbering to the X46 is purely to make the route sound more attractive to passengers. The 'X' is as much a part of the brand as the 'MAX' logo or livery. Arriva aren't the first corporation to do so and won't be the last. Is there any difference between Lidl baked beans and Waitrose baked beans? Probably not, but many people will presume Waitrose is better because of the brand they have built.

The X46 still pretty much follows the route a car driver would take between Crook and Durham, so is still 'direct' as such. The 306/308 MAXing is a bit close to deviating from the brand concept technically, but clearly it's been decided MAX will stand up better against Cobalt Clipper than Frequenta. Once again, it's about what MAX suggests to the passenger, more than what the reality of the product is. Joe Bloggs stood in Haymarket wanting to get to the coast is going to subconsciously conclude that the X38 is faster than the 309. If Arriva win the passenger, they win the battle - however much we pick apart their efforts.

(08 Feb 2017, 9:42 pm)Andreos1 wrote Something that hasn't been mentioned, was that the 46 was known as the X46 (it may have been the X45 or something else at one point) in days gone by. But I am fairly sure that it was only fairly recently that the prefix was actually dropped on the Crook - Durham/Newcastle route.

(08 Feb 2017, 9:57 pm)James101 wrote Indeed, wasn't it also peak extensions to Newcastle?

Maybe there's an idea in bringing back peak extensions to Newcastle on some routes to win custom. Bus is then utilised by Jesmond on locals in Newcastle then sent back on a PM X46 to Stanhope via Durham. 

But that would involve inter-depot co-operation and some thinking outside the box. Mental.

(08 Feb 2017, 9:58 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Indeed, the Crook to Durham service used to be the X46 when it used to run to Newcastle. So, in effect, it is a return to the original service number rather than simply renumbering it to fit the MAX brand. Similarly, there used to be an X75 between Darlington and Banard Castle so likewise there. One interesting thing to note is that there's nothing yet to suggest the 306/308 will be renumbered X36/X38 - remember that Yorkshire's MAX network is based on interurban services not eXpress services (mainly because they only have interurban routes and their expresses tend to be peak time only operations).

(08 Feb 2017, 6:06 pm)South Tyne wrote I personally prefer branding from how First do it, Featuring bold, However differing color's from the corporate livery, Despite being based on the same design as Corporate, With Route Brands applied from there, However anyone will know that the bus is ran by First.
Another one I could rate better than First is Transdev, However It would take me ages to write about how good it is...

(08 Feb 2017, 9:35 pm)James101 wrote The 306/308 MAXing is a bit close to deviating from the brand concept technically, but clearly it's been decided MAX will stand up better against Cobalt Clipper than Frequenta. Once again, it's about what MAX suggests to the passenger, more than what the reality of the product is. Joe Bloggs stood in Haymarket wanting to get to the coast is going to subconsciously conclude that the X38 is faster than the 309. If Arriva win the passenger, they win the battle - however much we pick apart their efforts.

(07 Feb 2017, 8:34 pm)Kuyoyo wrote As it was mentioned in the Odd workings thread..........
1472 has transferred to Durham, with Stockton retaining 1474.

(10 Feb 2017, 12:05 am)DavidSBrough wrote Is the X30 operated by Blyth depot now?

(09 Feb 2017, 8:23 pm)tyresmoke wrote Wrong! It was just a short term loan as mentioned in the odd workings thread.
Back at Stockton now, was used on the MC2 run this morning.
1474 will return to Durham to release 7424 to return to Redcar in time for the summer X93s.

(10 Feb 2017, 10:47 am)omnicity4659 wrote Most journeys. One morning journey is ran by Ashington I'm led to believe.

(10 Feb 2017, 4:00 pm)Cock Robin wrote 7404 came into M'bro bus station on the X93 where a silver van had been waiting ages, and they then appeared to be changing the windscreen!

(10 Feb 2017, 4:19 pm)Andreos1 wrote Autoglass?

(10 Feb 2017, 7:20 pm)Sinky19 wrote 2866 on 1/5/5A/19.

(10 Feb 2017, 3:26 pm)Cock Robin wrote And 1512 to Jesmond.

(12 Feb 2017, 1:37 pm)tyresmoke wrote The start of the sparkles expanding into Jesmond depot...

(13 Feb 2017, 4:56 pm)L469 YVK wrote Are there any new buses due for Arriva North of the Tyne this year?

(17 Feb 2017, 11:08 am)Stuartphin1639 wrote Just read in the news bit on here that 1474 has transferred from Stockton to Belmont

Just seen 1474 on X22 in sedgefield heading for Middlesbrough