Don't get the obsession with buses from Sunderland and Newcastle to Hartlepool. There's next to zero demand wanting to go there, and there's 2 trains for the few people who want to go to Newcastle / Sunderland.

The East / West links are the problem area around there, since there's literally nothing - at all, if you want to head South of Durham without seriously doubling back.

Darlington -> Newton Aycliffe -> Sedgefield -> Peterlee -> Sunderland
Bishop Auckland -> Sedgefield -> Hartlepool

Are the serious gaps imo.

Sadly Arriva were willing to sort out part of the top one with the X22 changes, so it must be close to being commercially viable, but the councillors were more arsed about the links to Stockton, which isn't busy. This is where taxpayer funds should be going as Arriva clearly see something between Darlington and Sedgefield so why not fund the short bus through...

(05 Mar 2026, 9:02 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote So a few examples of innovation for Sunderland from the period I mentioned - 5 to Boldon Asda, new routings serving East Herrington on 4/5, 17 (various incarnations), 21, open top 22, 25, open top 26 (and the more recent incarnation as 19), E3, E6, X1, X2, X27-X29, M39-M41.  All of these were introduced post rereg through the 90s with most creating new or faster links.  They survived varying lengths of time.  Compare that to the last 15 ish years.  You could argue the whole Favourite operation in County Durham is another example.  I am sure you can come up with many others from other parts of the region if you really want to see/hear more examples.

Wouldn't really say the E6, it was put on to compete with Catch-A-Bus' 6.

Looking at Go North East, pretty sure the X10 didn't exist in 1986 (don't recall seeing it in the May 1986 timetable I've seen) - do please correct if I'm wrong.

(Yesterday, 8:02 am)F114TML wrote Wouldn't really say the E6, it was put on to compete with Catch-A-Bus' 6.

Looking at Go North East, pretty sure the X10 didn't exist in 1986 (don't recall seeing it in the May 1986 timetable I've seen) - do please correct if I'm wrong.

There was no fast service (X10) to Middlesbrough, it was the X1 which called at Chester, Durham and Sedgefield....

(Yesterday, 8:51 am)Retro Nero wrote There was no fast service (X10) to Middlesbrough, it was the X1 which called at Chester, Durham and Sedgefield....

When the X10 ran in the early and mid nineties I seem to remember it being jointly operated by Northern, Tees and United, and buses ran the X10 in one direction and the X1 in the other.

(Yesterday, 9:46 am)missedbus wrote When the X10 ran in the early and mid nineties I seem to remember it being jointly operated by Northern, Tees and United, and buses ran the X10 in one direction and the X1 in the other.

Branded Tynelink as on this United Olympian 

https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/image...tA1PZn-d04&s=10

(Yesterday, 9:46 am)missedbus wrote When the X10 ran in the early and mid nineties I seem to remember it being jointly operated by Northern, Tees and United, and buses ran the X10 in one direction and the X1 in the other.

Sorry, my mistake there was an X10 but I think it was an even more limited stop than it is now , if I remember it was Newcastle, I think Heworth and Testos then direct to Middlesbrough ( may have stopped at Stockton) unsure, can anyone else help on this one

(Yesterday, 8:02 am)F114TML wrote Wouldn't really say the E6, it was put on to compete with Catch-A-Bus' 6.

Looking at Go North East, pretty sure the X10 didn't exist in 1986 (don't recall seeing it in the May 1986 timetable I've seen) - do please correct if I'm wrong.

The E3 was put on to compete against TWOC X2, the X27/X28/X29 was put on to compete against Redby 27/28/29


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(Yesterday, 8:23 pm)cbma06 wrote The E3 was put on to compete against TWOC X2, the X27/X28/X29 was put on to compete against Redby 27/28/29


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I loved those days. Timetable updates nearly every month. Trips to the Busways travel
Shop on Fawcett Street to get the new paper timetables!