Yes, just dug up the service change list.
X5 was formerly the 15A
X15 was formerly the 15 (these literally were just a change of number, absolutely no timetable or route change otherwise)
X45/X46/X47 were formerly the 45/46/47 and the difference was that the express versions were non-stop from Metrocentre to Newcastle.

http://web.archive.org/web/2020103021481...uly-373932

(this was at the same time they commenced the short-lived extension of the 33 to East Herrington).

For the 15/15A, would it not have hurt to just supplement them with a truely limited stop service if they really wanted an Xlines route round there?

(26 Jun 2022, 10:06 pm)F114TML wrote Yes, just dug up the service change list.
X5 was formerly the 15A
X15 was formerly the 15 (these literally were just a change of number, absolutely no timetable or route change otherwise)
X45/X46/X47 were formerly the 45/46/47 and the difference was that the express versions were non-stop from Metrocentre to Newcastle.

http://web.archive.org/web/2020103021481...uly-373932

(this was at the same time they commenced the short-lived extension of the 33 to East Herrington).

For the 15/15A, would it not have hurt to just supplement them with a truely limited stop service if they really wanted an Xlines route round there?

Technically the 'slow' alternative to the X5/X15 is the 16.

(27 Jun 2022, 2:19 pm)Dan wrote Technically the 'slow' alternative to the X5/X15 is the 16.

Same thing can be send for the X30/X31 is the 6. 

But I don't really know what the X70/X71 especially the X72 as expresses.

(26 Jun 2022, 6:10 pm)busmanT wrote Wasn't Xlines mean to be just that - faster interurban links with fewer stops?

Think there was some patter about it being a comparable journey to the car.
Something along those lines anyway.

But either way, not sure it holds much water.
Just compare an X5 trip back in the day to the current X1!
More bus stops and a longer journey time. Regardless of having a car or not.

(27 Jun 2022, 2:34 pm)Unber43 wrote Same thing can be send for the X30/X31 is the 6. 

But I don't really know what the X70/X71 especially the X72 as expresses.

Clutching at straws somewhat when comparing it against the X70/X71, but clearly the 'slow' Consett to Newcastle service is the 47.

(27 Jun 2022, 6:30 pm)Dan wrote Clutching at straws somewhat when comparing it against the X70/X71, but clearly the 'slow' Consett to Newcastle service is the 47.

We all know 47 is the slow service. 

But it would make sense if the 47 was either renamed the 45, or X45 renamed X47. 

X70/X71 Consett in 1 hour I would say that is an express, I mean the X70 is pretty much a straightline. 

And the X72 is 10 mins shorter than the 6, so that could probs count. 

Really the X72/X30/X31 should be retimed to work at an every 20 mins frequency. even tho X72 is 20 mins longer

(27 Jun 2022, 6:33 pm)Unber43 wrote We all know 47 is the slow service. 

But it would make sense if the 47 was either renamed the 45, or X45 renamed X47. 

X70/X71 Consett in 1 hour I would say that is an express, I mean the X70 is pretty much a straightline. 

And the X72 is 10 mins shorter than the 6, so that could probs count. 

Really the X72/X30/X31 should be retimed to work at an every 20 mins frequency. even tho X72 is 20 mins longer

The X30/X31/X45/X70/X71/X72 aren't express services they literally stop at every bus stop bar a short section in Gateshead / Teams.

Express services need to skip an area where a duplicate service runs the same route imo or a service which just runs between two areas without really stopping.

They're quite rare in the North East but the 1/X1 between Darlington and Shildon is probably the best example of one or the 21/X21 between Gateshead and Chester Le Street or for not stopping services the GNE X1/X66, Arriva X20 and SNE 100/X24

(27 Jun 2022, 6:45 pm)Storx wrote The X30/X31/X45/X70/X71/X72 aren't express services they literally stop at every bus stop bar a short section in Gateshead / Teams.

Express services need to skip an area where a duplicate service runs the same route imo or a service which just runs between two areas without really stopping.

They're quite rare in the North East but the 1/X1 between Darlington and Shildon is probably the best example of one or the 21/X21 between Gateshead and Chester Le Street or for not stopping services the GNE X1/X66, Arriva X20 and SNE 100/X24

GNE X20 aswell & X6.

Personally I would class the X30/31 as an express service, they mainly go on the outskirts of places like Whickham and don't have that many stops.

(27 Jun 2022, 6:45 pm)Storx wrote The X30/X31/X45/X70/X71/X72 aren't express services they literally stop at every bus stop bar a short section in Gateshead / Teams.

Express services need to skip an area where a duplicate service runs the same route imo or a service which just runs between two areas without really stopping.

They're quite rare in the North East but the 1/X1 between Darlington and Shildon is probably the best example of one or the 21/X21 between Gateshead and Chester Le Street or for not stopping services the GNE X1/X66, Arriva X20 and SNE 100/X24

It’s been mentioned on the forum before, the xline bus services Doesn’t mean express services like the time before, it’s more luxury like a facelift from a normal service even though it’s slighter quicker even though it’s only a matter of minutes difference, for consett depot the xlines brand are overkill and diluted and now really meaningless and pointless


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

(27 Jun 2022, 7:01 pm)cbma06 wrote It’s been mentioned on the forum before, the xline bus services Doesn’t mean express services like the time before, it’s more luxury like a facelift from a normal service even though it’s slighter quicker even though it’s only a matter of minutes difference, for consett depot the xlines brand are overkill and diluted and now really meaningless and pointless


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yeah I know, it's just an upgraded version of the Arriva MAX really which also turned a complete mess aswell by the end especially at Blyth with services like the 308 which isn't express in the slightest ending up in it. Least it hasn't got that bad.

(27 Jun 2022, 7:01 pm)cbma06 wrote It’s been mentioned on the forum before, the xline bus services Doesn’t mean express services like the time before, it’s more luxury like a facelift from a normal service even though it’s slighter quicker even though it’s only a matter of minutes difference, for consett depot the xlines brand are overkill and diluted and now really meaningless and pointless

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The tagline is "frequent, rapid links from Go North East" - it's on the back of every Xlines bus. Doesn't that describe exactly what it is supposed to be?

(27 Jun 2022, 7:01 pm)cbma06 wrote It’s been mentioned on the forum before, the xline bus services Doesn’t mean express services like the time before, it’s more luxury like a facelift from a normal service even though it’s slighter quicker even though it’s only a matter of minutes difference, for consett depot the xlines brand are overkill and diluted and now really meaningless and pointless


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree, whereas I feel like Washington & Riverside has the perfect amoutn with the X21 coming

(27 Jun 2022, 7:00 pm)Jack Gill wrote Personally I would class the X30/31 as an express service, they mainly go on the outskirts of places like Whickham and don't have that many stops.

I don't mind if an express service isn't limited stop, as long as they're infrequently used.

Take the X30/X31 for example, although it does technically serve every stop, in my experience it's very rare that it actually stops everywhere. You get a few people in Dunston and Whickham, but I don't recall it stopping very often between Sunniside and Stanley, at least outside of peak hours.

(27 Jun 2022, 7:23 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I don't mind if an express service isn't limited stop, as long as they're infrequently used.

Take the X30/X31 for example, although it does technically serve every stop, in my experience it's very rare that it actually stops everywhere. You get a few people in Dunston and Whickham, but I don't recall it stopping very often between Sunniside and Stanley, at least outside of peak hours.

Despite that, the timetable for the X30/31 will reflect those stops. Removing them won't harm many, but would allow the journey time to be decreased and reduce layover/idling and potentially improve driver resource (yes a few minutes on one journey isn't going to make much difference, but added up over the course of a day/week/month, it will).
A bus ain't going to make money laying over or waiting time.

The 4 can be bad for that.
Sets off from Houghton towards Heworth and can end up laying over in Burnmoor for what seems like an eternity.
Ditto at the Galleries with the 4 and X1.
But the 4 on an evening or Sunday and its layover in Houghton can be there for 10/15mins.
The X1 at Dalton Park isn't an effective use of time either. Despite the connections it opens up.

I do wish the X21 was a bit more limited stop though, given that it pretty much duplicates the Arriva 6 from Durham to West Auckland, there is no reason (other than poaching passengers) to serve every stop.

They could quite feasibly do West Auckland Club > St Helens Church > Tindale Retail park > Homebase > Cabin Gate > Hospital > Morrisons > Bus Station > Market Place > all stops to Middlestone Moor Post Office > Four Lane Ends > Spennymoor Precinct > Tudhoe Grange > Tudhoe Post Office > Current stops to Durham Bus Station/North Road > St Leonards School > Hospital > Fram Front Street > Pity Me Front Street > Kimblesworth Lane End > Plawsworth Red Lion > Chester Moor Inn > CLS Hermitage > CLS Black Horse > CLS Corals > Current stops to Newcastle

Does the X21 really need to pass through Low Fell as well, surely a bit of time can be saved by avoiding Low Fell?

(27 Jun 2022, 8:03 pm)Jack Gill wrote Does the X21 really need to pass through Low Fell as well, surely a bit of time can be saved by avoiding Low Fell?

I assume it mostly a case of how do you get it from CLS to Newcastle without going through Low Fell If it continues to serve gateshead. The only alternative would be staying on the A1 until Lobley hill and then going up bensham bank which would probably take just as long and opens the door to delays on both the A1 around team valley and bensham bank at peak times.

(27 Jun 2022, 7:23 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I don't mind if an express service isn't limited stop, as long as they're infrequently used.

Take the X30/X31 for example, although it does technically serve every stop, in my experience it's very rare that it actually stops everywhere. You get a few people in Dunston and Whickham, but I don't recall it stopping very often between Sunniside and Stanley, at least outside of peak hours.

Similar for ANE's X15 - loads of stops up the A1 between Morpeth and Felton, and again north of Alnwick, but in reality it rarely stops.

(27 Jun 2022, 9:31 pm)User2613 wrote I assume it mostly a case of how do you get it from CLS to Newcastle without going through Low Fell If it continues to serve gateshead. The only alternative would be staying on the A1 until Lobley hill and then going up bensham bank which would probably take just as long and opens the door to delays on both the A1 around team valley and bensham bank at peak times.

I suppose one advantage of it missing out Low Fell would be that it can take the quickest route, the same way they can either go through Birtley or down the A1 to CLS. But, in reality, Low Fell is the quickest option 99% of the time as it's a more direct route

(27 Jun 2022, 11:42 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I suppose one advantage of it missing out Low Fell would be that it can take the quickest route, the same way they can either go through Birtley or down the A1 to CLS. But, in reality, Low Fell is the quickest option 99% of the time as it's a more direct route

That was my point given going through Low Fell is going to take the same amount of time or be quicker the majority of the time they may as well send it that way and have the extra stop at the cannon as an opportunity to make a bit of extra cash.

(27 Jun 2022, 11:42 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I suppose one advantage of it missing out Low Fell would be that it can take the quickest route, the same way they can either go through Birtley or down the A1 to CLS. But, in reality, Low Fell is the quickest option 99% of the time as it's a more direct route

Most the X21 went though wrekinton before they added a stop in low fell

(27 Jun 2022, 7:11 pm)Adrian wrote The tagline is "frequent, rapid links from Go North East" - it's on the back of every Xlines bus. Doesn't that describe exactly what it is supposed to be?

The two-hourly X10 on a Sunday disagrees

(28 Jun 2022, 9:12 am)Ds1197 wrote Most the X21 went though wrekinton before they added a stop in low fell

I recall the conversations at the time saying that the X21 was mostly going through Low Fell before the stop there was introduced.

Other than via Wrekenton, did it also go via the Lobley Hill junction?

(29 Jun 2022, 1:45 pm)omnicity4659 wrote I recall the conversations at the time saying that the X21 was mostly going through Low Fell before the stop there was introduced.

Other than via Wrekenton, did it also go via the Lobley Hill junction?

Did it not sometimes go via The Teams A184 then Bensham or Askew Road back in the Pronto days?

(29 Jun 2022, 1:50 pm)L469 YVK wrote Did it not sometimes go via The Teams A184 then Bensham or Askew Road back in the Pronto days?

Possibly, just seems a bit of a long detour without much benefit

(29 Jun 2022, 1:50 pm)L469 YVK wrote Did it not sometimes go via The Teams A184 then Bensham or Askew Road back in the Pronto days?

Yes, I remember being on one that did that when there were roadworks on Durham Road.

I think I recall the X21 going down Dryden Road and Kells Lane instead of going straight down Durham Road a few times before it started stopping at The Cannon.