(10 Apr 2026, 8:24 pm)Storx wrote 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.
GNE had that with the final iteration of the 777 as well as the 638.
Newcastle to Sunderland 777.
Via Birtley, Rickleton and Harraton.
Sunderland to Western Gateshead via Harraton, Lambton, the Galleries, Oxclose, Blackfell...
Both hourly, but offered combined half hourly frequency between Fatfield and Sunderland. Every 15mins between Penshaw and Sunderland when you mixed it up with the 775 and 778.
They also supplemented the more frequent, local and longer distance Washington services.
As an example, Rickleton had the 777 and X6 to Sunderland.
Harraton had the 777, X6 and 638 to Sunderland.
Adrian mentioned the lack of services in and around the Washington Industrial Estates.
He's right. There's nothing.
What was there, has gone.
What did run, probably wasn't offered at the right times - so was binned off.
One exception I remember, was a service that ran via Emmerson DHSS a few times on a morning and afternoon - which coincided with shifts starting and finishing.
I can't remember the number (731?), but ran between The Galleries and Chester via Biddick, Fatfield and usually Harraton/Rickleton and Barley Mow.
Those peak time runs saw it miss out Rickleton, scoot through Wear Industrial Estate, the A195 and then fly in and out of the DHSS site.
Usually got a decent load too.