(20 May 2022, 1:59 pm)Andreos1 wrote Just compared Newcastle to Whitby on the train vs Newcastle to Whitby on the X11 on a random weekend in July.

Using a two together railcard, it comes to £23.80 (via Hartlepool). £33.10 (via Darlington).
Obviously there's the cost of getting to and from the town to take in to account.

Using a friends and family railcard (2 adults and 2 kids), it comes to £30.60 (via Hartlepool) and £42.60 (via Darlington).
Again, there's any costs in getting to and from the town to take in to account.

It's £43.50 for a family using the railcard and a Tyne Tees Ranger. 
£33.80 for two adults using the same ticket using a two together railcard. 

If you were to use the X10/X93, two adult explorers are £21.80
A Family Explorer for the day is £20.60.

Clear advantages and disadvantages to each of the options (including the X11) I think.

It's swings and roundabouts. If I was to use the train, I've got to factor in the cost of travel to/from Newcastle or Durham to catch the said train. With the X11 ticket, my connecting journeys are covered as part of that, wherever on the GNE network they may be.

The X10/X93 is a good point too. If people don't want to pay the premium for a more direct service, then there's the indirect option for just over half the price (or free for ENCTS holders)