(Yesterday, 3:51 pm)tvd wrote There seems to be quite a few going end to end, or near enough, there's always good loads getting on at Middlesbrough and Stockton when I've been on.  Getting from Teesside to Tyneside on the train isn't always quick and easy, depending on when & where you're going, so a slightly faster bus would help.
Not sure what other double deckers are more powerful (or if that's the issue) or would provide much more seating.

Go North East make the decisions and I'm only commenting on what I've experienced - the other day I travelled on the first bus out of Middlesbrough at 6am and was surprised how busy even that one got.  Just seems there's a perfect template there for expansion, by bringing back the old X9.

(Today, 9:01 am)Ianthegoon wrote I often did - with multiple bus journeys both before and after my X9/X10 journey, it made sense to have an Explorer ticket.  Any use of rail on top of that is an added expense that, when you have an Explorer, is unnecessary.

I do get that it's a trade-off between cost and speed, though.

Aye that's fair wasn't too sure either way; thought there might have been a lot of intermediate journeys since the rail stations in Stockton and Billingham, in particular, aren't pretty much ideal.

(6 hours ago)Malarkey wrote I'd be curious to compare end to end numbers between the X10 and those who may potentially use Flixbus or National Express Services instead between Newcastle and Middlesbrough.

Aye, can get some cheap fares with them aswell.

It'll be interesting to see if Ember in Scotland ever head South; they seem to getting coaches for the fun of it lately. Imo some massive potential in the North East; the Middlesbrough to Newcastle corridor being one of them.

I know some will say E400MMC's are 'great' buses but let's be blunt they're absolutely awful for anything longer than 30 minutes really; Stuff like Alnwick to Newcastle, Carlisle to Newcastle and Newcastle to Middlesbrough are just open for the taking imo.