(11 Jan 2014, 9:16 pm)G-CPTN wrote I see that the short service is to position a vehicle at Hexham for the return to Newcastle @9:27 (there being no 8am service from Carlisle)

What kind of a service is that? (and do they regret losing the Hexham depot?)

Quite an interesting thought.

I can't help but feel all of this could have been avoided if Arriva didn't decide to create war though. Due to service alterations by Arriva with a similar service and Arriva having the upper-hand due to connections to other Arriva buses in all locations served by the "The OK Expressway" OK1, Go North East were forced to withdraw the OK1 on the basis that it wasn't generating enough revenue.

I don't think the "Tynedalexpress" would have come about if the OK1 was retained to this day. Go North East know they have the upper-hand in Hexham because of the connections they can provide with other services and of course the reports of the 685 being "Britain's worst bus service" (believe that claim was made in a Hexham-based newspaper?) made GNE realise there was a potential gap in the market.

In my eyes, GNE have kicked ANE (and SNW) while they're down. ANE/SNW have already made service alterations (notably removing the hour-long layover which debatably helped with reliability) and both operators have removed coaches from their 685 operation. Anyone else notice all promotion said how the "Tynedalexpress" was a 'low floor operation' when it first came about in September? A dig and a half, that one was!

I do wonder how long ANE/SNW will keep up the 685 before it starts making a loss...