(26 Oct 2017, 6:02 pm)Acky81 wrote Well I’ve never diverted that much before on the x24. Through gateshead estates passing heworth golf club through Washington. Didn’t even touch the felling bypass

(26 Oct 2017, 6:09 pm)cbma06 wrote Buses were diverted away from A19 at testos roundabout due to a major incident


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(27 Oct 2017, 7:26 am)Acky81 wrote That would explain it then.

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Hate how the x24 has tinted windows people actually like to look outside. The lights inside are gloomy. On a brighter note I’ve user this service all week and passenger numbers are good. On average 30-35 passengers towards Newcastle 20ish coming back towards sunderland. I hope the x24a works

(27 Oct 2017, 3:06 pm)Dan wrote A 55-plate ALX300 (sure it was either 22345 or 22346) was heading back towards Newcastle, freshly repainted, at 15:15 this afternoon.

Anyone able to confirm which one it was?

(27 Oct 2017, 3:09 pm)HarryCowans4041 wrote Definitely 22346 - I saw it at Wheatsheaf presumably on its way back to Newcastle.

(27 Oct 2017, 7:26 am)Acky81 wrote That would explain it then.

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Hate how the x24 has tinted windows people actually like to look outside. The lights inside are gloomy. On a brighter note I’ve user this service all week and passenger numbers are good. On average 30-35 passengers towards Newcastle 20ish coming back towards sunderland. I hope the x24a works

(30 Oct 2017, 8:09 pm)Youngymmv wrote Am I right assume that all Branding will be phased out with the one livery scheme (100, connect dots, x34 x24 etc)

(02 Oct 2017, 5:34 pm)Michael wrote NEW Sunderland eveningrider


A new evening ticket to help you get around Sunderland this October!


Travel across Sunderland for only £2.00

See the Sunderland illuminations

Start your Christmas shopping

Offer  available  everyday  from  7pm  on  all  Stagecoach  buses  in  Sunderland.

The  eveningrider  is  also  valid  on  service  X24  (as  far  west  as  Hastings  Hill)  and  services  E1,  E2  &  E6  (as  far  as  South  Bents).

https://www.stagecoachbus.com/promos-and-offers/north-east/sunderland-eveningrider

(30 Oct 2017, 8:09 pm)Youngymmv wrote Am I right assume that all Branding will be phased out with the one livery scheme (100, connect dots, x34 x24 etc)

(31 Oct 2017, 3:26 pm)cbma06 wrote Stagecoach are still bringing in new buses in the gold livery still, shame there's no gold livery up here, would of thought that the gold livery would do for the gas buses or even the x24/x34


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(31 Oct 2017, 9:36 am)RBZ 5459 wrote UK Bus is generally phasing out the introduction of big brand liveries that go against the grain - e.g. the Gas bus livery, Cumbria's Lakes Connection 555 or Norfolk's CoastHopper. Stagecoach's new UK Bus Commercial man is for strengthening corporate identity rather than watering it down under liveries, the new Arriva liveries are a good example of keeping a strong corporate image and a way route branding is to be done. Portsmouth's recent MMCs are a good example; https://goo.gl/iRDZRr. Similarly, Preston's pending Scania MMCs (15295-15305) which were pencilled in to be bespoke inside and out like the Lakes Connection 555, are to be now in corporate swoops with branding on the corporate livery. They're interiors are still bespoke though away from the corporate standard.

The 100 and X34 I would say are passable as its branding built on the corporate brand, with the Dots/Zones a little bit more at odds, with the X24 probably being a brand they wouldn't approve again. SCNE have generally been reeling in branding the past few years, with corporate swoops with no branding doing the job unless it's of a huge commercial benefit - which is what's happening with batches now due for repaint, with no great rush to get them through the paint shop.

I do feel that the Gas buses do require some sort of Gas bus technology promotion on them though. When they were first introduced into Sunderland there was big marketing and media push promoting them, like the Public Open Day and the ongoing promotion of them on the UK Bus website. They are the only vehicles of their type in the UK Bus fleet too, with locals knowing them as the 'Gas buses', so I think it is a bit of a let down commercially. Something across the 'Gas pods' or even a small sticker like the Wi-Fi ones on the destination glass or rear would have been a welcoming sight.