(03 Apr 2021, 2:42 pm)Rapidsnap wrote I'm confused to why people are complaining that it's numbered X11 because it's next to X9/X10. It's like saying the 20 and 21 or the 27 and 28 are similar routes because they are numbered next to each other but go completely different directions even though they share one area that they both service (Durham 20/21 and Newcastle / Gateshead 27/28). Amazed no one has gone on about saying Arriva has an X11 that runs to Newcastle, what if passengers get confused by that, but then you have to add a number of other routes into the arguement. Basically it's a family size can of worms.

This is a bit different though, it's not just one area that they share.
The X11 is basically an X9/X10 that goes via Washington, and then continues further

If I was travelling to basically any destination along the X10 route, I could, if tickets allowed, use the X11 instead.
The same argument could not be made for the 20/21 or 27/28.

If I was going to mention Arriva's X11, then I'd have to mention the fact that Arriva has an X21 that goes North from Newcastle as well. It's pretty obvious that the Arriva and GNE services are different (different operators, different destinations)

With the X9/X10/X11 they're similar enough in number, vehicles used, livery, destinations that it /could/ cause confusion to some people.

Just to add another hypothetical situation:
Imagine if GNE wanted to run a service from Newcastle to Berwick, following the 309/310 route then continuing up the coast and numbered it 311 and run it using Cobalt and Coast buses.

Surely the fact that the destination and route number is different is enough for people to realise it's a special service and their normal ticket isn't valid?