(4 hours ago)Storx wrote Aye you could do, I did think about merging the Sunderland services all across to Newcastle but kind of went against it. There's quite big problems with the 56, as it's so long that when something goes wrong, ie every match day. It leaves the other end of the route with a complete shambles of a service (take your pick which match here).
Least if you had some shorter ones, at least half the boards won't be affected at what's happened at the other end of the route.
Seen quite a few people moaning about the 56 in Gateshead because of issues in Sunderland, and it's a fair complaint really.
Obviously it all depends how many people are going from the two ends, but can't imagine it being too much as it takes so long and generally people in Gateshead don't want to be in Sunderland and people in North Sunderland in Newcastle, hence the numerous express attempts have all failed miserably.
Hence why something like the X24 works, stops from Sunderland to Hastings Hill, then nothing till Gateshead.... a actual express service.