(16 Jul 2026, 7:39 pm)Malarkey wrote I think this is where you'd probably see these sorts of routes operating under a Service Permit, much like they already do in Greater Manchester.

For example:

Transdev 1: Blackburn – Darwen – Astley Bridge – Bolton
Rosso 481/483: Blackburn – Haslingden – Rawtenstall – Bury
Transdev X43 "The Witch Way": Burnley – Rawtenstall – Prestwich – Manchester
High Peak 199 Skyline: Buxton – Manchester Airport

They all cross into the Bee Network area but continue to operate under Service Permits rather than being part of the franchised network.

Up here, I'd say the X10 Newcastle – Gateshead – Dalton Park – Stockton – Middlesbrough is probably the best comparison and could end up operating in a similar way.

One thing I have wondered though is what happens to routes like the X10 in the longer term. As National Express and FlixBus sit outside franchising anyway, could there eventually be a case for express routes like the X10 becoming part of that wider coach market instead? That would leave the franchised network to concentrate more on local and regional services.

Just something I've been thinking about rather than saying that's what will happen, but it's an interesting one to consider.


199

Skyline

Can't see the X10 becoming a permit route mind for one big reason. 

There's no-one to operate it. Unless Arriva or Stagecoach take it over in Stockton it's finished and I'm unsure they'll want to mess around with permits for it since it doesn't benefit either of them in terms of where they are right now and is a massive headache.