(19 Dec 2021, 11:36 pm)Wybus wrote If this is true I’m starting to think those union members who were saying that GNE were spending too much money on paint might have a point. We’ve already seen a quick change on the X5/X15 now this.

I’m not sure they’ve really given enough time for stuff to work, either loadings on the X84/X85 or the X9/X10, how long as there really been when buses have been completely normal - no social distancing, no masks, no working from home/distance learning, no general thoughts that people should take leisure travel a bit steady, no shortages of drivers making travel unreliable - I think it’s amounted to a few days!

Times are hard - I doubt any company can continue running services that are clearly carrying not carrying very many passengers. 
X85 was always going to be a challenge to make commercial.

The X10 was always busy because it had a similar journey time to the coast line train (1 hour 20 mins) and was cheaper - now that it's taking 1 hour 44 minutes the advantage over the train simply isn't there any longer. Plus, the rolling stock on the coast line has improved and pulling out of Eldon Square, moving to a Shelter less stop in Newgate Street, will not have helped passenger numbers.
X9 was only introduced when ENCTS became free anywhere in England and passenger numbers required a frequency increase on X10 - alas, ENCTS passengers seem to have been the slowest to return to using buses. Regrettably I think that the X10 has passed its peak.

At least Go North East tried!