I was in the Hexham area today, and just by standing in the bus station for ten minutes around the time both one of Go North East's services and the 685 service were due, it was quite fascinating to hear how much discussion was actually going on in regards to the two different services.

A group of middle-aged women (I imagine they were actually fare paying customers, rather than pensioners with bus passes) were discussing which bus they were going to get, and one said, "That one has an X in front of the number, that means it is an express service", which gained a positive response from the other women at the bus stop. Another chimed in with, "Yes, but it's quite similar to the 685 and gets into Eldon Square in about the same time". The woman who originally mentioned the 'X' in the number responded, "Yeah, well... That's if it turns up."

A man who was lurking around came over and joined them and said, "The Go North East one has newer buses with Wi-Fi, that one always turns up on time".


I left the bus station before I could see which service they did indeed get on, but their conversation was rather intriguing indeed. It's not a conversation I'd expect of general members of the public, and for me - whose favourite bus operator out of "the big three" is Go North East - it was great to hear how much positive feedback the "Tynedalexpress" was receiving. It also fascinated me to hear that members of the public thought Go North East's buses were newer, when in fact both Arriva and Stagecoach are both allocating newer vehicles.
I haven't seen much of the daytime loadings, but the first few journeys of the day (both on weekdays and Saturdays) have been very good indeed, as well as a few evening services which I've seen. I have not noticed a significant decrease in the passenger numbers on the "TEN" either, which is great.


I do wonder how much custom has been taken away from the 685 though. With the re-numbering of the service, the ever-changing allocation of buses (be it Pulsars or OmniCitys with Arriva, or indeed the Stagecoach liveried Enviros now allocated), I'd love to know if their passenger numbers have decreased.