Some very promising loadings observed today on the X22 and X43. My impression was lots of people using the X43 as a sort of protest vote against Go North East within Derwentside, with a number of passengers travelling from Burnopfield and Tantobie into Stanley. I counted six passengers alighting throughout the route on the 11:55 journey from Stanley. A number of passengers on the X22 heading back to Chester boarded throughout Birtley and Barley Mow although these were perhaps more incidental journeys with it being the first bus to present for them screened for all stops to Chester.

The Go North East 6 service operated by 5490 broke down not long after leaving Stanley on the 14:41 journey, and the 14:55 X43 not only rescued some of the passengers already onboard but mopped up a considerable number waiting for the 6 further along the route. What is remarkable is that, even with the X43 running fifteen minutes behind and itself arriving slightly late into the Metrocentre, it still got the passengers there earlier than the Go North East service otherwise would, had it operated as intended. Another masterclass in service design and delivery from the region's largest bus operator.