(18 Apr 2016, 10:13 am)Andreos1 wrote Comparing the the X93 to the X4/4, one has had new vehicles purchased and the other is constantly recieving second hand ones.
However the revenue generated on the slower X4, by virtue of it going around the doors possibly justifies the newer vehicles.
The question could be how the X93 can increase its revenue, whilst maintaining the express element - which is the attraction for door to door punters.

The Gateshead X66 has lost its non-stop attraction and maybe it will suffer as a result.

Comparing the X4/4 and the X93 isn't a great comparison as the trade is different.
The X93 is one of the few routes in the Tees Valley area that is very much the same as it was 10 years ago prior to Viba Tees Valley (and to think that was indeed 10 years ago this year). The X4 is in-fact very different. What is now the X4/4 has been through many different formats in the last decade - pre-Viva the only section of the current X4 that matches that X4 is Middlesbrough to Saltburn and even that took a different route within Middlesbrough. The Saltburn to Loftus section was the 62 and Loftus-Whitby was the X56.
The other factor is that the X4/4 has all year round trade while the X93 can be very quiet in the winter (and so if required, single deckers are more than able to handle the loadings then as they can at present during the week while the schools are in).

However, trade on the X93 especially from Middlesbrough has started to pick up throughout the day now which does suggest that the recent investment and MAX improvements has began to see the route grow. I wouldn't be at all surprised if we don't see a half hourly Middlesbrough-Scarborough frequency in future years (and maybe every 15 Whitby-Scarborough).