(10 Jul 2020, 11:53 pm)L469 YVK wrote I agree with you on this one. If ADL Scania E400MMC N250UDs or Wright StreetDeck OM936s were ordered, then X-Lines would be suited.
But with the X9 & X10 becoming coach operated, a separate brand (but tied in with the X-Lines network) would be better. Even a re-launch of the Tyne-Tees Xpress brand but promoting the luxury benefits of a coach operated service.
I suppose it depends how you look at it, from one point of view, it makes sense to have it separate, for exactly the reason you say.
But on the other hand, the whole point of the X-Lines network was to have the express services (even if some are controversial!) under one brand.
I would also argue that the benefits of the X9/X10 are less to do with the vehicle running on it, but the route itself. The main benefit of the route is the relatively short travel time between the destinations, if they had a double deck that could handle the motorway the way the coaches can, would that make it any worse of an experience? I personally don't think so.
If I used the route regularly, I personally would have preferred a double decker, basically 6337 but with an engine that could handle the motorway. I always pick a table seat if I can because it doesn't feel like you're being packed in like sardines, which is what pretty much every coach feels like to me, especially with the actually high-back chairs blocking the view forwards (not like the V3 or Keil seats they have on the other vehicles which don't even reach my head!)