(25 Nov 2013, 12:11 am)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Are you deliberately being obtuse? I at no point referred to the X3 being the X2's replacement. I was responding to your question regarding whether the X2 might have been downgraded from Citaros. I suggest you reread the posts.
As for the withdrawal of the X2 being a positive thing, we'll have to agree to disagree as you've chosen to ignore the point that a direct service was severed, meaning inconvenience, increased journey time and potentially more cost for former X2 passengers. Good for some, bad for most.
I understand the point you were getting at now, though it wasn't clear at the time.
Like I said, as much as I'd love a direct service to Newcastle (I live on the route, so would most definitely use it - I can only assume you do too, to get so worked up about it!), there is no way I think it should be done at the expense of the 2A/2C, X3/X36 and 8. Although a lot of members on this forum will disagree, a streamlined 10 minute frequency has advantages to both the customers and company (the advantages to the former are shown by the increasing use of the services, while the advantages to the latter are shown by the investment the services have received post X2 withdrawal).
The only major downside to the customer (which I have previously established) is the inconvenience in regards to the passenger chanovers, and the fact they're now unable to purchase returns.