(08 Sep 2020, 7:02 pm)Storx wrote Surely though that would be more the X70/X71 shouldn't be X-Lines either from Consett's perspective. Neither of them are exactly express services anyway. Least the X70/X71 has express parts along the route for example the 6 from Dipton and Sunniside then it's the express service to Team Valley and Lobley Hill from Gateshead vs the 1 and 97 but really ever since the 43 and 44 we're scrapped they're not really express services either really. The X45/46/47 doesn't have anything at all bar the 10A from Blackhall Mill but that's scraping the bar a bit, they're not really the same route.Apart from 'Connections 4' which is one of the cringiest brand names left (before branding was stepped up around 2015), everything else has got a decent brand name now imo. Some of them might not be very local but they don't have shambolic names. The Loop should make a comeback as I believe it was one of the first branded routes. It's also accurate as well, it really is a loop!
The allocations is a fair reason though mind and I do understand why they've done it to improve passengers but long term it'll become worthless like Max at Blyth imo.
Back to the original discussion though and talking of local brands I hope the Saltwell Park brand does stay in some form as it's another of the few brands that has some local connection rather than your generic and pointless ones like Fab 56, Citylink, The Loop etc.
I think the 49s should be renamed Blaydon Racers, local branding + a decent brand. Any idea why it was taken away from the 49s.