(25 Jun 2026, 11:58 am)X919 WGR wrote If only they did not merge the 50 with the 50A. Extra 20 Minute extension. Would of love to see how it would of ran if it was a Single Decker allocation still.
When it used the A1 it took the same amount of time as the 20 from Durham to South Shields. Now even with 2 Bus Journeys from Durham to Sunderland to South Shields (24 Route) You could probably get there before the 50 with the added Picktree extension

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With the mentions of South Shields. Go North East had its fair run of long routes.

Crusader 26: Newcastle - South Shields (Glad they removed the Jarrow to Newcastle extension)
Fab Fifty 57: South Shields - Newcastle
50: Long time between Durham - South Shields
Whey Aye Five (No O) 5 between North Shields - South Shields
South Tyne 57B South Shields - Heworth
Prince Bishops 20/20A South Shields -Durham
Laser 35 South Shields - Low Moorsley

You can. We travelled from Fram to the model bus show near Chichester metro, recently and with 3 buses, it was still quicker than the 50. The one that would have got us there sooner was cancelled, anyway.

6/7 Forest Hall- Metrocentre
11 Whitley Bay- Metrocentre
32/32A Kenton Bar- Walker (it sounds short, its not)
32/32A Kenton Bar- Four Lane Ends (and its previous number (either 15/16 or 16/16A)) (also may have been the 14/15 at one point when it ran Four Lane Ends- Haymarket)
343 Whitley Bay- Morpeth
527 Newcastle or Gateshead- South Shields
557 i forget where that ran to and from

(25 Jun 2026, 8:38 pm)V514DFT wrote 6/7 Forest Hall- Metrocentre
11 Whitley Bay- Metrocentre
32/32A Kenton Bar- Walker (it sounds short, its not)
32/32A Kenton Bar- Four Lane Ends (and its previous number (either 15/16 or 16/16A)) (also may have been the 14/15 at one point when it ran Four Lane Ends- Haymarket)
343 Whitley Bay- Morpeth
527 Newcastle or Gateshead- South Shields
557 i forget where that ran to and from

557 Gateshead - South Shields via Beacon Lough, Heworth, Whitemare Pool, Fellgate Estate, Scotch Estate and Tyne Dock.
I remember guiding a driver between Heworth and Shields shortly after the route was introduced!
There was another 557 years ago from Fellgate Estate to Seaburn which was an OK Travel route.

(25 Jun 2026, 8:52 pm)missedbus wrote 557 Gateshead - South Shields via Beacon Lough, Heworth, Whitemare Pool, Fellgate Estate, Scotch Estate and Tyne Dock.
I remember guiding a driver between Heworth and Shields shortly after the route was introduced!
There was another 557 years ago from Fellgate Estate to Seaburn which was an OK Travel route.

557 from Fellgate-Seaburn Probably just got extended and renumbered to 558

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Or maybe from a couple of years ago 355 from Four Lane Ends to Forest Hall when I lived at Longbenton we used to take this bus.

(22 Jun 2026, 7:48 pm)Retro Nero wrote There used to be X50 Newcastle to Darlington.

Stagecoach ran the X90 from Darlington to Newcastle, and for a time it ran as far south as York.

(26 Jun 2026, 7:24 am)EastGatesheadRider wrote 557 from Fellgate-Seaburn Probably just got extended and renumbered to 558

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Or maybe from a couple of years ago 355 from Four Lane Ends to Forest Hall when I lived at Longbenton we used to take this bus.

557 was different from 558 at that time

The 558 went evening and Sundays only

The 557 was Seaburn - Fellgate operated by Redby hourly, Mon to Sat.
At same time there was the 559 also, which went Seaburn to South Shields via long distance and took just shy of an hour, this was contracted and operated by OK Travel hourly from Peterlee depot.

The 558 was established back on deregulation day in 1986 having been renumbered from pre deregulation as the 528

The bendy buses that used to run on the X66 (and later, the 57/58) were surely the longest buses in the North East.

I suppose you could, strictly speaking, say the Class 142 Pacer train is also a contender, saying as it was two Leyland Nationals stuck together.

Pity the only person who finds you funny, is yourself

(26 Jun 2026, 4:44 pm)MurdnunoC wrote The bendy buses that used to run on the X66 (and later, the 57/58) were surely the longest buses in the North East.

I suppose you could, strictly speaking, say the Class 142 Pacer train is also a contender, saying as it was two Leyland Nationals stuck together.

Hahaha this amused me too much

(26 Jun 2026, 9:53 pm)V514DFT wrote Pity the only person who finds you funny, is yourself

Firstly, how do you know I'm the only one who finds me funny? Like a typical Reform voter, you're confusing your own opinion with fact.

And secondly, as long as I'm getting some amusement out of it, I really don't give a toss about your opinion. 

Kind Regards

I thought i had already posted this but the 44/46 from hazlerigg and polwart drive to whitley were long routes

(25 Jun 2026, 5:38 pm)EastGatesheadRider wrote BTW so we can narrow it down no pre-booking coaches eg.ember route around scotland
Routes that have been Withdrawn for more than 10 years

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I do agree on the 873

Realistically the longest route in terms of mileage in the region is the X18 end to end. In “modern” history Stagecoach ran a Dundee-Edinburgh-North Shields Ferry service X54 around 2001.

(26 Jun 2026, 9:53 pm)V514DFT wrote Pity the only person who finds you funny, is yourself

I found it funny, but then my name is Idiot!