Partly inspired by seeing a photo on FB of the X10 using Durham Road through Shipcote and seeing the current X10 displaying 'Bus Full' as it left Wolviston heading north yesterday evening, it got me thinking about Express Services of yesteryear.

Tried filling in the gaps, using my knowledge and memories. 
But if anyone can help a man out, it would be appreciated. 

X1 (Newcastle to Middlesbrough). Now ANE X12.
X2 (Sunderland to Bishop?). Doesn't exist. 
X3 (?) 
X4 (Newcastle to Sunderland). Partly replaced by GNE 56.
X5 (Newcastle to Hartlepool). Partly replaced by GNE X1
X6 (Langley Park to Sunderland). Doesn't exist.
X7/8 (Consett to Sunderland/Washington services?). Partly replaced by 8/78.
X9 (?)
X10 (Newcastle to Middlesbrough (now operates via A19). Was joint op. Now fully GNE.

There were a load of Expresses from various parts of Durham to Newcastle and Metrocentre for a period in the late 80s early 90s and were operated by a number of companies.
Ditto the ones from South Shields, such as the X22. But I'm sure they were in the VFM days. 

I can also remember the following, but unsure if they ran in the 80s. Or came after. 
X85 
X88
X89
X90
X94
X95/96

I vaguely remember some X90 'somethings' running to Whickham/Lobley Hill for a period too. 

Any help in filling in the blanks would be appreciated!

(9 hours ago)Andreos1 wrote Partly inspired by seeing a photo on FB of the X10 using Durham Road through Shipcote and seeing the current X10 displaying 'Bus Full' as it left Wolviston heading north yesterday evening, it got me thinking about Express Services of yesteryear.

Tried filling in the gaps, using my knowledge and memories. 
But if anyone can help a man out, it would be appreciated. 

X1 (Newcastle to Middlesbrough). Now ANE X12.
X2 (Sunderland to Bishop?). Doesn't exist. 
X3 (?) 
X4 (Newcastle to Sunderland). Partly replaced by GNE 56.
X5 (Newcastle to Hartlepool). Partly replaced by GNE X1
X6 (Langley Park to Sunderland). Doesn't exist.
X7/8 (Consett to Sunderland/Washington services?). Partly replaced by 8/78.
X9 (?)
X10 (Newcastle to Middlesbrough (now operates via A19). Was joint op. Now fully GNE.

There were a load of Expresses from various parts of Durham to Newcastle and Metrocentre for a period in the late 80s early 90s and were operated by a number of companies.
Ditto the ones from South Shields, such as the X22. But I'm sure they were in the VFM days. 

I can also remember the following, but unsure if they ran in the 80s. Or came after. 
X85 
X88
X89
X90
X94
X95/96

I vaguely remember some X90 'somethings' running to Whickham/Lobley Hill for a period too. 

Any help in filling in the blanks would be appreciated!

you forgot the X92/X93 (Newcastle-Murton via Metrocentre/Team Valley/Washington)
The X3 i think was similar to the current GNE X20.

(8 hours ago)ASX_Terranova wrote you forgot the X92/X93 (Newcastle-Murton via Metrocentre/Team Valley/Washington)
The X3 i think was similar to the current GNE X20.

The X3 was Sunderland-Durham-Bishop Auckland , which was originally the 218/219 and before that used to be part of the 57 which the other half of the 57 became the original 220.

Didn’t the original x92/x93 started from Horden originally (Northern Days) but been cut over the years to start from Murton .


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(9 hours ago)Andreos1 wrote Partly inspired by seeing a photo on FB of the X10 using Durham Road through Shipcote and seeing the current X10 displaying 'Bus Full' as it left Wolviston heading north yesterday evening, it got me thinking about Express Services of yesteryear.

Tried filling in the gaps, using my knowledge and memories. 
But if anyone can help a man out, it would be appreciated. 

X1 (Newcastle to Middlesbrough). Now ANE X12.
X2 (Sunderland to Bishop?). Doesn't exist. 
X3 (?) 
X4 (Newcastle to Sunderland). Partly replaced by GNE 56.
X5 (Newcastle to Hartlepool). Partly replaced by GNE X1
X6 (Langley Park to Sunderland). Doesn't exist.
X7/8 (Consett to Sunderland/Washington services?). Partly replaced by 8/78.
X9 (?)
X10 (Newcastle to Middlesbrough (now operates via A19). Was joint op. Now fully GNE.

There were a load of Expresses from various parts of Durham to Newcastle and Metrocentre for a period in the late 80s early 90s and were operated by a number of companies.
Ditto the ones from South Shields, such as the X22. But I'm sure they were in the VFM days. 

I can also remember the following, but unsure if they ran in the 80s. Or came after. 
X85 
X88
X89
X90
X94
X95/96

I vaguely remember some X90 'somethings' running to Whickham/Lobley Hill for a period too. 

Any help in filling in the blanks would be appreciated!

X2 was Newcastle to South Shields

X6 Sunderland to Langley Park, but originally the X6 was Sunderland to Consett almost in a straight line between Sunderland and Chester-le-street via chester Road and used to take an hour from Sunderland to Consett


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X95 and X96 were great when travelling from Sunderland to Newcastle and quicker than the X4 which went via Wrekenton, Galleries and Southwick.

X95 was Seaham Harbour via Chester Road and Concord and could do Sunderland to Newcastle in about 40 mins and was nearly always allocated MCW Metrobuses with the decent seats.

X96 started in Newcastle and maybe went to Seaham Harbour too, but went via Boldon, past the Greyhound track and into Sunderland that way. Was there a low bridge somewhere on that route, as it was always allocated the ECW bodied Leopards in Expresslink livery.

Before Oct '86:

X11: Newcastle - Consett via Rowlands Gill (Later altered to operate via Burnopfield and Dipton)
X16/17 Newcastle - Redcar (Irregular services - one went via Beamish and Durham, whilst the other went via Billingham)
X20: Newcastle - Bishop Auckland via Durham (This may have went to Crook at some point prior or after instead of Bishop Auckland)
X27: Newcastle - Hutton Henry via Shotton and Wingate (OK Travel)
X40: Newcastle - Blackhall Mill via Gateshead, Rowlands Gill and Chopwell
X41: Newcastle - Clara Vale via Gateshead, Blaydon and Ryton
X42: Newcastle - High Spen via Gateshead, Blaydon, and Crawcrook
X51/52: Newcastle - Whickham *Fellside Park) via A1 and Dunston Bank
X55: Newcastle - Hartlepool via Peterlee (Direct to Peterlee)
X64: Newcastle - Low Prudhoe
X86: Washington - Sunderland (Became the 186 - more or less - without the limited stop section between Concord and Sunderland)
X97/98: Gateshead - Whickham Circular (Later extended to Newcastle Worswick Street - current 301 route but excluding Fellside Park)

(7 hours ago)MurdnunoC wrote Before Oct '86:

X11: Newcastle - Consett via Rowlands Gill (Later altered to operate via Burnopfield and Dipton)
X16/17 Newcastle - Redcar (Irregular services - one went via Beamish and Durham, whilst the other went via Billingham)
X20: Newcastle - Bishop Auckland via Durham (This may have went to Crook at some point prior or after instead of Bishop Auckland)
X27: Newcastle - Hutton Henry via Shotton and Wingate (OK Travel)
X40: Newcastle - Blackhall Mill via Gateshead, Rowlands Gill and Chopwell
X41: Newcastle - Clara Vale via Gateshead, Blaydon and Ryton
X42: Newcastle - High Spen via Gateshead, Blaydon, and Crawcrook
X51/52: Newcastle - Whickham *Fellside Park) via A1 and Dunston Bank
X55: Newcastle - Hartlepool via Peterlee (Direct to Peterlee)
X64: Newcastle - Low Prudhoe
X86: Washington - Sunderland (Became the 186  - more or less - without the limited stop section between Concord and Sunderland)
X97/98: Gateshead - Whickham Circular (Later extended to Newcastle Worswick Street - current 301 route but excluding Fellside Park)

I have a few questions.
1. Did the ANE X46 run to newcastle in this period. 
2. When did GNE's X50 start up.
3. Did the Tyne Valley Peak Extras to Stockfield run then (think it was the X66). 
4. Would any of the services that no longer exist be useful in 2025.

(7 hours ago)ASX_Terranova wrote I have a few questions.
1. Did the ANE X46 run to newcastle in this period. 
2. When did GNE's X50 start up.
3. Did the Tyne Valley Peak Extras to Stockfield run then (think it was the X66). 
4. Would any of the services that no longer exist be useful in 2025.

1. Possibly
2. If you're on about the one between Durham and South Shields, I would probably say 1999/2000-ish. A Newcastle to Darlo X50 was already running (together with an X70) which I omitted.
3. X66 started after deregulation. 
4. Probably/probably not. Depends on the resource available and how much loss a bus company is prepared to endure before breaking even then, hopefully. turning a profit. The problem is short-termism. Bus companies. I think, believe customers are suddenly going to flock to a new service in their droves, when often, like any business venture, it takes years to build a reliable and sustainable service. Think long-term. A five year plan instead of a six month one.

(7 hours ago)citaro5284 wrote X95 and X96 were great when travelling from Sunderland to Newcastle and quicker than the X4 which went via Wrekenton, Galleries and Southwick.

X95 was Seaham Harbour via Chester Road and Concord and could do Sunderland to Newcastle in about 40 mins and was nearly always allocated MCW Metrobuses with the decent seats.

X96 started in Newcastle and maybe went to Seaham Harbour too, but went via Boldon, past the Greyhound track and into Sunderland that way. Was there a low bridge somewhere on that route, as it was always allocated the ECW bodied Leopards in Expresslink livery.

I remember when the X96 got extended from Seaham to Peterlee replacing service 233, yea low bridge on Seaham coast road, X96 replaced service X37


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I probably should have included the X12/X13 in my list too, since they are South of Tyne, I guess. They were Sunderland to Doxford Park express services (housing estate, not the business park as it didn't exist then) which eventually evolved into the 12/13 in the post deregulation area.

I'm pretty sure there was a X14 which ran alongside them at some point between Sunderland and Moorside.