(07 Sep 2021, 5:23 pm)Storx wrote Aye I know what you mean, I know it does Quorum etc but it's definitely an express from Quorum to Newcastle imo and it's probably worth it for that alone and made much more sense when it was branded as the Quorum Express rather than the current Max. It's quite express between Burradon and Quorum aswell running direct via the A1056 / A189 rather than through West Moor / Killingworth even known it's quicker that way at rush hour but still.

It's definitely on the edge of what an express is though mind in fairness. I had a feeling someone would disagree on it.

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The X1 /  X3 / X3A / X4 / X4A  / X17 / X66 / X67 / X93 / X94 are all good examples of expresses down Tees Valley aswell. The X21 (Arriva) / X22 (Arriva) / X26 / X27 / X75 / X76 definitely not so it's not just GNE who have dubious express routes.

Personally I don't see the X9/X10 as express services. They're more intercity / regional routes and similar to Megabus / National Express / Flixbus imo hence they're ran by coaches now instead of conventional buses and also have their own ticketing aswell.

(07 Sep 2021, 5:45 pm)Train8261 wrote Looking at what it says for X Lines

Welcome to X-lines, your fast, direct bus links from Go North East to get you to work, to the shops, or off for a nice day out. Don't drive, get driven.

Buses are comfortable and easy to spot in their smart gold colour scheme. With free Wi-Fi and USB charging on board, great value fares, next-stop announcements and drivers that are helpful and friendly, it really is the best way to go

It doesn't exactly say that it's a limited stop service. It just says fast and direct links. Which in terms It does

X1 get you to Queen Elizabeth and Springwell quicker than the 56 and Washington to Houghton quicker than the 4 

X5/X15 get you to Consett quicker than the 16/16A

X20 get you to Durham quicker than the 20

X21 get you to Durham quicker than the 21

Can't really say the X30/X31/X70/X71/X71/X45/X46 as there doesn't seem to be a bus from Newcastle to Stanley or Consett for them to compete with

X84/X85 get you to Hexham quicker than the 10

The only service bu Go North East you count as limited stops is the X9/X10

Others count as the X66 and X22

X22 is quicker than changing at Chester Le Street to Gateshead then X66 to Metrocentre

X66 is granted a route that only needs to stop at Gateshead and Handy Drive Bus depot and Metrocentre only. Considering after Gateshead it heads along Askew Road then joins up with the other buses to Metrocentre. I don't understand when I've been on it (Before changes and even after) people get on the X66 yet it stops at the exact same stops as the (10/10A/10B/97(before changes)& 6) yet they all get on the X66 when a ten has passed the bus stop seconds before

It's like that meme of all the buses lined up and the person shouting ill get the one at the back. Regent Centre towards Newcastle suffers the most. No matter what bus in front. They will always get the one I'm on. Like even if it was a 43 and 44 following each other

(07 Sep 2021, 7:27 pm)Andreos1 wrote There's not much express about those routes. Particularly since the last lot of revisions.
Made a conscious effort to get an X3 a few months back, just to see what the new route was like. Never again.

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Depending where you are in the town or need to be in the town, a metro and 4 to/from the Galleries can be quicker than the X1.

As an example, I've missed an X1 from Eldon Square a few times on an evening.
Rather than wait half an hour, I've jumped on the Metro at Haymarket, connected to a 4 at Heworth and got to the Galleries at the same time as the X1 I missed.

(07 Sep 2021, 7:34 pm)streetdeckfan wrote If we actually had an integrated public transport network, I'd agree with you there. But with the way things are at the minute, that's like comparing a National Express coach to a Train.

(07 Sep 2021, 11:00 pm)Train8261 wrote Hasn't it been mentioned X Lines is just a fast link route and is a High Spec type of bus

New seats
Next stop
USB
WIFI
High Back seats (I think is the other)

Some other routes have similar ones

Connection 4 has new seats, wifi and next stop but no USB
Durham Diamond has new seats, wifi and next stop but no USB
Cobalt & Coast and Coaster have Wifi, Next stop & USB but no new seats. Just to name a few

(07 Sep 2021, 7:39 pm)Andreos1 wrote Not sure what there is to agree or disagree with.
Everything I said is a fact.
It has happened a number of times over the years. Sometimes I've stopped on the 4, other times I've changed on to the X1.

About 21/22 years ago, I had been in the town with some mates for the day. 
They went to Eldon Square to get a Houghton express. Having had enough social interaction for the day and fancying a bit of a grice, I got a 58 to Heworth and then a 194. Jumped on the X94 at the Galleries and bumped in to my mates.

(08 Sep 2021, 7:08 am)Rob44 wrote After a day at whitley bay my mate jumped on the 44 back to Hazlerigg and I decided to jump on the metro to South gosforth then the metro to regent centre. Got there 5 minutes before the same 44 pulled in and one of my mates had met a lass on the bus. They went out and are still together now! 

(08 Sep 2021, 7:08 am)Rob44 wrote After a day at whitley bay my mate jumped on the 44 back to Hazlerigg and I decided to jump on the metro to South gosforth then the metro to regent centre. Got there 5 minutes before the same 44 pulled in and one of my mates had met a lass on the bus. They went out and are still together now!

(08 Sep 2021, 5:30 pm)L469 YVK wrote I miss the 44 . Not the fastest from Whitley Bay but was quick from Rake Lane, New York and Norham Road.

Would've worked if Arriva renumbered to X38, ditched Marden and had it Blyth - Billy Mill then limited stop to Newcastle.

(05 Dec 2021, 12:31 am)Keeiajs wrote I know 3x E400's were orginally bought, but why only 3? 

Also there were going to be 31x Streetlites what were the plans for them. 

When did the other E400's get bought.

(05 Dec 2021, 1:38 pm)peter wrote If I remember correctly, the 3 original E400's were for the X30 cause they needed to be low-height. Then the Streetdecks were bought for the X45/46/47, X31 and X70/71. The remaining E400's were bought for the X1. Because of COVID 9 of the Streetdecks were re-directed elsewhere. Then the E400's were reallocated to Consett to allow the X30/31/70/71 to interwork with the Streetdecks going on the X1 and the X45/6.

(05 Dec 2021, 2:04 pm)Storx wrote Wasn't it originally (I could be wrong):

X1 - Enviro 400
X9/X10 - Streetdeck
X21 - Streetdeck complimenting 6301 - 6307
X30/X31 - Enviro 400
X45/X46/X47 - Streetdeck
X70/X71 - Streetdeck
X5/X15/X84/X85 - Unknown (B5's maybe?)
21 - 6331 - 6333

(05 Dec 2021, 2:31 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Weren't they leaning towards the Scania E400 for the X9/X10, but they were waiting for a demo vehicle to become available as they were in high demand?

We were supposed to get a couple of the new StreetDecks for the X21, but I'm guessing my perpetual moaning about having THREE different interior specs put them off, and we ended up getting the X9/X10 cast offs instead (which I'm mostly over now, either they're getting better, or my standards are dropping).

(05 Dec 2021, 3:07 pm)Storx wrote Honestly not too sure I could be wrong with the X9/X10 order but I always thought they swapped them for the coaches pretty much. Streetdecks on the X9/X10 would be awful mind, I could be wrong though.

First time you haven't moaned about the X21

(05 Dec 2021, 3:21 pm)streetdeckfan wrote IIRC, the X9/X10 wasn't even going to get an upgrade for a few years, it was only because Oxford wanted rid of some coaches and wanted some StreetDecks that it ended up getting an upgrade early.

(05 Dec 2021, 3:21 pm)streetdeckfan wrote IIRC, the X9/X10 wasn't even going to get an upgrade for a few years, it was only because Oxford wanted rid of some coaches and wanted some StreetDecks that it ended up getting an upgrade early.

(14 Dec 2021, 3:00 pm)JP6004 wrote Still no sign of the B5H Xlines entering service?

(14 Dec 2021, 3:18 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I wonder if it has something to do with them changing the seating layout to add tables. Don't they have to be rechecked by *insert government agency acronym here*

(14 Dec 2021, 3:20 pm)JP6004 wrote Thought they were already done. Doubt they would be as B9s on 309 didnt when they were fitted...did they?