(31 May 2025, 11:26 pm)Storx wrote Personally I'd argue some of those probably should be coaches aswell, especially the X15/X18 which run North of Alnwick. It wouldn't work really without splitting it off from their routes South of Alnwick though but that's another thread but don't see why it couldn't work it the X16 and the dead 777 resources were used for it. Alnwick to Newcastle probably deserves 2 BPH with one only stopping at Morpeth Bus Station and would help the Ashington issues aswell since these are the two which are killing buses every few years aswell.
These routes are no different to the X's out of Edinburgh which are the only routes which get into their bus station. See: https://bustimes.org/stops/6200600744
Yeah I think so, from what I can remember anyway.
I travelled on the x18 last Friday afternoon, it came into Morpeth packed, some got off and it left Morpeth virtually full. A coach would have been useless, no luggage space on board, no easy access and probably slower loading. The Enviro 400MMC was perfectly fine and comfortable enough for a speedy run down the A1, plus a double decker on those routes is great for viewing the superb Northumbrian countryside. Arriva seem to have got it right here, just a shame Ashington lost some MMCs to Redcar / Whitby.