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.

(06 Mar 2026, 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....

(06 Mar 2026, 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.

(06 Mar 2026, 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

(06 Mar 2026, 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

(06 Mar 2026, 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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(06 Mar 2026, 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!

(06 Mar 2026, 6:28 pm)Retro Nero wrote 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

The original X10 was Middlesbrough-Stockton-A177 and A1 straight into Newcastle. The photo shared above is from 1984 and I do believe it was started in the 70’s

(05 Mar 2026, 11:17 pm)Storx wrote 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...

i know you don’t seem to like Hartlepool for some reason but yes they is actually a demand for bus services to Sunderland and Newcastle.  The train is no good if suffer from anxiety and is often packed a bus service would at least be another option.  I mean from your point of view the 36 and 1 shouldn’t exist either but guess what both services get busy.  They is also no service from Hartlepool to Dalton Park so your not thinking of the places in between.  It’s usually having the train if you can’t get from Hartlepool to Easington Village anymore like you used to be able to.

(07 Mar 2026, 7:19 pm)col87 wrote i know you don’t seem to like Hartlepool for some reason but yes they is actually a demand for bus services to Sunderland and Newcastle.  The train is no good if suffer from anxiety and is often packed a bus service would at least be another option.  I mean from your point of view the 36 and 1 shouldn’t exist either but guess what both services get busy.  They is also no service from Hartlepool to Dalton Park so your not thinking of the places in between.  It’s usually having the train if you can’t get from Hartlepool to Easington Village anymore like you used to be able to.

The 1 and 36 are totally different though, the first one is the only bus service through the Clarences and the second one does multiple short journeys like Billingham to Norton aswell. They're also the only service between the bits. Not to mention the 1 links Seaton Carew seafront to Teesside for days out etc. 

There's nothing inbetween other than Dalton Park either, and that alone won't stack it up. It's the Peterlee to Hartlepool bit that's the problem as the 23/24 is every 15 minutes and you're never going to compete against it. 

GNE have attempted links to Sunderland before and they literally got withdrawn as no-one used it. 

Once franchising comes in, there's definitely arguments for merging the X6/23 though imo.

Came across this on facebook page:




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(07 Mar 2026, 10:13 pm)Storx wrote The 1 and 36 are totally different though, the first one is the only bus service through the Clarences and the second one does multiple short journeys like Billingham to Norton aswell. They're also the only service between the bits. Not to mention the 1 links Seaton Carew seafront to Teesside for days out etc. 

There's nothing inbetween other than Dalton Park either, and that alone won't stack it up. It's the Peterlee to Hartlepool bit that's the problem as the 23/24 is every 15 minutes and you're never going to compete against it. 

GNE have attempted links to Sunderland before and they literally got withdrawn as no-one used it. 

Once franchising comes in, there's definitely arguments for merging the X6/23 though imo.

I disagree, I think there's space for both the 23 and X6. Arriva deciding it needs to make passengers get off and get another bus will be something hopefully franchising gets rid of. Maybe even something more sensible like the 23 serving Seaham Harbour too making the 24 a fast option again and potentially binning the X6 entirely. In reality the main reason the 23 was withdrawn to Sunderland was because it was inconvenient for Arriva to run with no East Durham base and mainly in "GNE territory", franchising would mean it could be based out of one of the Sunderland depots and not matter who's territory it goes through, then it might make sense again.

(Yesterday, 12:08 pm)deanmachine wrote I disagree, I think there's space for both the 23 and X6. Arriva deciding it needs to make passengers get off and get another bus will be something hopefully franchising gets rid of. Maybe even something more sensible like the 23 serving Seaham Harbour too making the 24 a fast option again and potentially binning the X6 entirely. In reality the main reason the 23 was withdrawn to Sunderland was because it was inconvenient for Arriva to run with no East Durham base and mainly in "GNE territory", franchising would mean it could be based out of one of the Sunderland depots and not matter who's territory it goes through, then it might make sense again.

Coincidentally it’s the same reason the X6 to Hartlepool was binned. So GNE could run Peterlee comfortably without a base there.

(Yesterday, 12:08 pm)deanmachine wrote I disagree, I think there's space for both the 23 and X6. Arriva deciding it needs to make passengers get off and get another bus will be something hopefully franchising gets rid of. Maybe even something more sensible like the 23 serving Seaham Harbour too making the 24 a fast option again and potentially binning the X6 entirely. In reality the main reason the 23 was withdrawn to Sunderland was because it was inconvenient for Arriva to run with no East Durham base and mainly in "GNE territory", franchising would mean it could be based out of one of the Sunderland depots and not matter who's territory it goes through, then it might make sense again.

Yeah some valid, points. Guess if there's demand for it can't really disagree with it tbh. 

I'd love to see the X21/X22 back through tbh with links to Darlington restored aswell. 

Agreed with the changing of buses though, in an ideal world nothing would terminate at Peterlee really. 

The local routes being thrown into a small package and let GCT or Northstar or whatever run them instead. It's only fair they get some of the pie really

(07 Mar 2026, 10:13 pm)Storx wrote The 1 and 36 are totally different though, the first one is the only bus service through the Clarences and the second one does multiple short journeys like Billingham to Norton aswell. They're also the only service between the bits. Not to mention the 1 links Seaton Carew seafront to Teesside for days out etc. 

There's nothing inbetween other than Dalton Park either, and that alone won't stack it up. It's the Peterlee to Hartlepool bit that's the problem as the 23/24 is every 15 minutes and you're never going to compete against it. 

GNE have attempted links to Sunderland before and they literally got withdrawn as no-one used it. 

Once franchising comes in, there's definitely arguments for merging the X6/23 though imo.

They are plenty of people who want to go Dalton Park from Hartlepool so are you saying they shouldn’t be able to ? What about  people who want to get to Hartlepool from Easington Village and Colliery?  
People did use the X6 as well when it came to Hartlepool as it was quicker and went to Seaham.  The other service had been around for years as well originally a revamped 231 then X35 then X5 then 55 since 2004 so people must have used it. It was covid and cost cutting why it went.

(Yesterday, 7:29 pm)col87 wrote They are plenty of people who want to go Dalton Park from Hartlepool so are you saying they shouldn’t be able to ? What about  people who want to get to Hartlepool from Easington Village and Colliery?  
People did use the X6 as well when it came to Hartlepool as it was quicker and went to Seaham.  The other service had been around for years as well originally a revamped 231 then X35 then X5 then 55 since 2004 so people must have used it. It was covid and cost cutting why it went.

Ah no arguments about the Arriva service being restored. This was about Stagecoach running an express though to either Newcastle or Sunderland, just don't see where the demand is coming from them running it. It's just duplicating everything else.

Ignoring operators, merging the X6 and 23 would be a good move imo. Whether you wanted to readd the X21/X22 but maybe via Seaham back to the way they were aswell could be an option aswell. There's probably an argument for a 15 minute express to Seaham from Sunderland really.