(6 hours ago)S830OFT wrote Unfortunately, the biggest problem I find with Stagecoach in the North East is there just is not any innovation by them to start new routes, unless of course they are heavily subsidised & contracted routes...
Apart from the X24 and X34 of course - where this discussion started, with the mad suggestion that they shouldn't exist...
(10 hours ago)morritt89 wrote I live in the North of Sunderland and used the X36 a fair bit. It saved a trek to Southwick Green to get the 56 and was also quicker (or at least seemed quicker) than the 56 to Newcastle.
The issue, in my opinion, is that the estates that it went through (Carley Hill, Withereack, Redhouse and Downhill) were dominated by Stagecoach. I think if Stagecoach ran the X36 or an alternative Newcastle express via Sunderland North Estates (or even reinstate lost links with the 7 via Newcastle Road) it would be more successful.
I think this is the problem with a North Sunderland 'express' - unlike X24 where you can just head straight along Chester Road (pretty much the same as a car journey), not piddle around all the individual estates, for some reason that's exactly what seems to happen north of the river. Weaving through the various council estates is always going to feel slow and circuitous. If they wanted an express to work in that area, an X56 that runs North Hylton Road/Washington Road but then via FBP instead of a magical mystery tour of Washington and Gateshead would be more likely to appeal I'd guess.