(07 Sep 2021, 4:50 pm)citaro5284 wrote I would not say the X7/X8 are that much of an express - after Quorum it stops at most stops through Balliol Business Park, BT Call Centre, the bus stop on Salters Lane just after The BT Call Centre and then South Gosforth Roundabout. It is only the bit up Matthew Bank and the Great North Road it does not stop at - defo disagree on that one.
And yet X45/46 not stopping from Handy Drive to Newcastle is not an express, cannot see much difference in them 2 routes tbh.
Aye I know what you mean, I know it does Quorum etc but it's definitely an express from Quorum to Newcastle imo and it's probably worth it for that alone and made much more sense when it was branded as the Quorum Express rather than the current Max. It's quite express between Burradon and Quorum aswell running direct via the A1056 / A189 rather than through West Moor / Killingworth even known it's quicker that way at rush hour but still.
It's definitely on the edge of what an express is though mind in fairness. I had a feeling someone would disagree on it.
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The X1 / X3 / X3A / X4 / X4A / X17 / X66 / X67 / X93 / X94 are all good examples of expresses down Tees Valley aswell. The X21 (Arriva) / X22 (Arriva) / X26 / X27 / X75 / X76 definitely not so it's not just GNE who have dubious express routes.
Personally I don't see the X9/X10 as express services. They're more intercity / regional routes and similar to Megabus / National Express / Flixbus imo hence they're ran by coaches now instead of conventional buses and also have their own ticketing aswell.