(09 Mar 2021, 6:46 pm)mb134 wrote I'm sceptical of the 21st June date, but I'd imagine that's the idea behind this. I don't see them registering a new service like this for the hope of what, 25 people? Certainly in my experience those who have had the vaccine don't really care anymore and want to get back to normal, the amount of pensioners that ring up where I work asking if we're open for dining in is unreal. If the vaccine is fully rolled out by then, or at least if they're making progress on the 30-40 year olds then I imagine the messaging will overwhelmingly be to get everyone back to normal. 

Yeah that was always my understanding. You'd hope they know this and time it to leave Newcastle before the pensioner passes kick in to try and gain revenue then. 

Any family with a car, I'd agree. Though I imagine again this will be targeting those without access to a car who want a day out down the coast, as well as those with concessionary passes. 

Regardless of how it turns out, I think it deserves praise for at the very least trying to do something in these circumstances.

I'm a car driver and I'm planning on using the X11. Not just as an enthusiast but as an everyday passenger, as I personally hate the drive to Whitby and or Scarborough. My wife and I like Whitby and I'd probably drive to Heworth and leave the car there to use the X11.  My major concern though is if the service is successful and also, if, Explorers are accepted, what is to say additional passengers may make way down later  via X10/X93 to Whitby or Scarborough and then on the return from Whitby them passengers time it for the X11 turning up removing the need to change at Boro and the additional passengers board at Whitby prior to any passengers who came down on the X11 and then all of sudden the bus is full. What will happen to the outstanding passengers who cant get on. 

They cant really say as they do on twitter "we know service X11 has left passengers behind at Whitby but dont worry we will have another bus sent to you"   or could they if they use EY as an additional emergency contingency.  None of us are probably expecting this scenario to happen due to the current situation but maybe one day there wont be enough seats for the return journey.

I've done the Wright Bros 808 to Keswick during the summer which is similar 1 journey out 1 journey return. 3 hours there and 3 hours back. Get to the bus stop for return and there are tons of passengers but usually most of these are day trippers so the drivers have an idea of how many have come down on the outward journey and have an estimate of numbers for return.