(10 Apr 2026, 10:22 am)Andreos1 wrote I've shared many examples of services being like that in the past. 
But the obsession with consolidation has often been at the expense of anything convenient for the passengers. 

The old GNE X5 was replaced by the X1 and journies are longer in duration than they were South of Washington.
Partly because the X1 is an all stopper (as opposed to limited stop like it was), replacing the 194 between Shiney Row and Easington Lane.

The Durham Road services in Gateshead allowed for the shorter hops, whilst the 231, 723, 735 etc were limited stop between Birtley and Gateshead. 
They've all been combined in to the 21 now (aka the slow bus to Gateshead).

The X12 between Birtley and Gateshead is the only limited stop service between the two and is timed to be approx 10mins quicker during the peaks.

Aye totally, must admit the X1 is definitely one of those services, it's slow at the Houghton end because of it's stopping nature through, let's be honest, some pretty insignificant places, like Newbottle way too frequent, but if you want a bus from anywhere in Washington bar Concord - then good luck. Worst of both worlds imo. 

Like I might be stupid, missing something, but I really can't see how a bus running from Newcastle and Sunderland, and both doing loops around Birtley and Washington in some form of way, linking them up to their major cities can't make money - even if it meant binning off the Washington Locals which I'm sure most really couldn't care about. It's where most people want to be. This bus service also being the one giving a fast service from Birtley not stopping at every bus stop in the world either as the 21 is frustrating as hell.

Credit to Arriva, because they don't deserve it much lately, they've got the 43/44/45 and X10/X11 nailed perfectly for Cramlington / Great North Road and everyone having a direct service to Newcastle with everyone getting as best journey times you're realistically going to get in terms of this really.