(03 Dec 2021, 7:35 am)54APhotography wrote The only suggestion I ever made to Stagecoach North East was routing a number of X24 via Washington Galleries. The route the drivers take from Hastings Hill to Gateshead is fluid and during the prolonged Testo's farce a good number used Penshaw, A1231, A195. As loadings are very erratic during the core day it might win them a bit of business, and be faster than the 2/2A
(03 Dec 2021, 11:12 am)V514DFT wrote I'd have leave the X24 the way it is,but have your route suggestion and number it X14,so you' have X14 X24,and X34
See I'd have the X24/A to Sunderland, X34 to South Shields (leave them the way they are) and then have the X44 to Hartlepool, and Incorporate this into GNE X9/X10 or make it X54. This ensures that Stagecoach have an express service to each place they have presence as this ensures people stay with them, and also that they link to their biggest territory in the NE.
Maybe even try to battle Arriva in Sunderland - Hartlepool where GNE retreated from
So then you'd have
685 - Newcastle - Carisle
X24/A - Newcastle - Sunderland
X34 - Newcastle - South Shields
X44 - Newcastle - Hartlepool - Middlesborough
X54 - Newcastle - Dalton Park - Peterlee - Middlesborough