(29 Jun 2026, 8:33 am)Nerd4321 wrote Its what I like about the X43. The GNE to Stanley is absolutely shocking for time. They take way to long. X43 takes 30 minutes and its so quick. 6 takes u on a hell of a tour to get to Stanley and the X73 is just why even call it an express at that point. It'll always confuse me why the 6 was the only bus from Stanley to the Metrocentre.
Aye the whole Stanley to Metrocentre network is just a mess if you ask me, agreed with the 6. It's just a sticker plaster of multiple routes merged together to try a form something but in reality it's a jack of all trades, master of none because it takes too long.
(29 Jun 2026, 9:51 am)L469 YVK wrote If GNE interworked the X32 & X73 which would also sort a few other issues out, the BSIP for the Gateshead & Team Valley links to wider parts of Stanley would be justified.
As much as they get a bit stick, Arriva Northumbria & NCC have shown how BSIP should be used.
Asides from that, if Northstar could get a handful of well TLC'd later B9TLs or Scania E400/E400MMC, I'd like to see them have a try taking on the X21 with a competing service, running as a 'proper' express like the old X21 did. Would serve GNE right for dumping gutless hairdryers on a service that has clearly been calling out for a decent allocation of vehicles for years.
A re-birth of 'Pronto' anyone? Could it run a PVR of 3x with a 3 hour round trip to Bishop Auckland only?
See I don't think the X32 should exist. All the problems are because they binned off the 98 and forced it into the Stanley/Consett expresses meaning they omit Gateshead - a place people actually want to be.
Just restore things as they were in Whickham using the BSIP money with the 96/97/98/98A and now the buses coming from Consett/Stanley can go via the Metrocentre or Gateshead where people actually want to be. Basically the way it was for years before they started pissing around tbh.
Stuff like the X43 being one of those routes as it's actually a decent route imo.
Like personally if I had a pot of money and wanted to take a punt for a bus route, two of my top routes would be these:
With the black bits being express. The current service provision for them is utter crap and slow since GNE pushed streamlining too hard and they're not attractive imo. The 10 in particular is a complete chore and the route beyond Stanley on the second route is just pretty non-existent.