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(31 Oct 2019, 12:00 am)Storx wrote </p><p>
</p><p><br></p><p>They're totally different bus routes and are still very sub urban in comparison to the X14/5/6/8/20 where there's sections of 20+ mins passing nowhere (not express) and journey times of over 3 hours and are totally differently ran hence the streetlites on most of the above which would never work on those.<br></p><p><br></p><p>Other than the X21 and X22 it's what Ashington depot is plus the 35 which is more like the Stanley buses above. Stagecoach definitely have better experience in bus routes like them with the 685 (Carlisle to Newcastle), 10 (Aberdeen - Inverness via Moray towns) and the X98/X99 (Inverness - Thurso) just to the name a few which are run by low floor coaches for sthe 10/X98/X99 which would be more suited imo because of the length of the journeys. The X93 is the same down Middlesbrough.</p><p><br></p><p>I don't expect either of them to go to Stagecoach or GNE anyway tbh and think it will be floated rather than sold in the end anyway.<br></p><p><br></p><p><br></p><p>

</p><p><br></p><p>IMO, GNE would be perfect for Ashington's Operations. They already have long distance &amp; rural experience with the 10, X9, X10, X70, X71 and some of the Hexham local routes.</p><p><br></p><p>GNE would probably serve the area very well and I could imagine them introducing a hub &amp; spoke model to some degree.</p><p><br></p><p>- X21 (or new number) would become a high frequency hub &amp; spoke route between Ashington &amp; Newcastle with the Hartlands being served. Nedderton would be connected to Bedlington using other services.</p><p><br></p><p>- 35 (or new&nbsp;number) turned into a 'Connections 4' style service with newer buses and maybe an 'a' service with either a combined 10 or 15 min frequency on common sections of route. The 'a' service would serve current X21 route between Newbiggin and Ashington.</p><p><br></p><p>- New hourly&nbsp;express service from Newbiggin to Newcastle combining every 30 minutes from Ashington with X20 (or new service number).</p><p><br></p><p>- New 'Connections 4' style service covering the X22 &amp; 57 areas upto every 15 mins with connections to Ashington, Bedlington and Cramlington.</p>