(31 Aug 2013, 1:48 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote I have used the X3 quite a few times and it's hasn't been that busy tbh, minus one occasion 2 weeks ago when I got on it in Park Lane and did the full length to Eldon Square, and it was packed, even worse it was a bone breaking SPD. Although it takes an Hour, It felt like forever, especially to Boldon. I generally think it goes around the world before it actually gets anywhere, same with the X36 although I have never been on it, minus a short journey between Gateshead and Heworth.
For me I don't think running an Express from Sunderland via Boldon to Newcastle really works all that well tbh, although saying that if GNE were to move the stands on the X3/X36 so that were together along with the 56 in Park Lane, I think it maybe more successful. Whereas the likes of old X2/X4 and X85 were successful. If look at the current X3/X36 Timetables then go on the Bygone Era and look at the X2/X4 and X85, you'll find that they were quicker by a good couple of minutes.
Now I've looked on the Bygone Era and I found this http://northeastbuses.co.uk/archive/GoNo...il1967.pdf - Now this is from 1967 I know, but its a good example I think, back then there was an Express Service between Sunderland and Newcastle, and it took only 32 Minutes to go from A to B which is quite astonishing in my opinion as it takes an Hour from A to B on the X3/X36, Which is double the time. So in reality is the X3/X36 really an Express Service or is just a Normal Stopping Service with an "X" infront of the Number to make passengers think it's a fast link.
I found that timetable amongst my old bus timetable collection and sent it to northeastbus. There were a lot less traffic in those days. example, the old X6 Sunderland to Consett took an hour in the olden days but in the 80's the X6 Sunderland to Langley Park took 1 hour also.
In the 80's-90's I used to get the X95 regularly from Grindon Mill to Newcastle as it only took just over 30 minutes between the 2 points stopping only at Hastings Hill, Concord then Gateshead Interchange.