(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.
Never undertstood why Go North East never reintroduced a more direct Stanley to Metrocentre route. I'm not sure if in the early 2000s it was still Consett --> Stanley --> Metrocentre --> Newcastle with the X12 number or it had been shortned to Stanley. However, when they were Northern it was an express from Consett to Newcastle via Metrocentre and Stanley.
You'd think when they see a route like the X43 they would also want to take advantage but no. Good on Northstar for doing the Newcastle extension on Saturdays because Go North East will not get many now departing from Stanley.
They've had so many Stanley --> Metrocentre --> Newcastle routes. 6/43/44/X73/40/M6/M7/M8/V7/V8. Not one of them were as quick as what the X43 gets you.
I hope it does go all well for Northstar when the Saturday Newcastle extension comes into effect.