(02 Mar 2026, 9:31 pm)logidoodah wrote My own hypothetical scenario would be to remove the X24/X34 off of that awful stand on Pilgrim St (where they back onto the junction) they only moved across the road due to the building works which are just about done anyways and swap them to the old 100 stop on Blackett St and move the X63 to terminate at Central (providing separate links from the slower counterparts). Interested to know if people have other suggestions...

Do you mean the stop outside of Greggs?  How would the X24/X34 get there without doing a massive detour to enable them to head east on that bit of Blackett Street?  They stop where they do as it's straight up Pilgrim Street off the Tyne Bridge, then straight out via Hole in the Wall.

I believe once JDS re-opens, they're planning on returning the X24/34 to going in via Hole in the Wall and out via Pilgrim Street. Don't quote me on it though.

(03 Mar 2026, 3:16 am)F114TML wrote I believe once JDS re-opens, they're planning on returning the X24/34 to going in via Hole in the Wall and out via Pilgrim Street. Don't quote me on it though.

Yeah it's probably same difference whichever direction you run that loop in - just can't see how you could usefully use the Blackett St stop for those services.

(03 Mar 2026, 10:39 am)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Yeah it's probably same difference whichever direction you run that loop in - just can't see how you could usefully use the Blackett St stop for those services.

Ideally the X24/X34 should be in Eldon Square with all the other expresses. But obviously Sunderland and South Tyneside buses go from Market Street, not Eldon Square. So Market Street or Pilgrim Street makes sense. Realistically, the X24/X34 aren't needed as the Metro exists. 27 and 56 serve places along the way, an express just duplicates the Metro.

(03 Mar 2026, 11:17 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote Ideally the X24/X34 should be in Eldon Square with all the other expresses. But obviously Sunderland and South Tyneside buses go from Market Street, not Eldon Square. So Market Street or Pilgrim Street makes sense. Realistically, the X24/X34 aren't needed as the Metro exists. 27 and 56 serve places along the way, an express just duplicates the Metro.

Hmm, you wouldn’t get the 56 from Sunderland , as it goes via Washington, the moon and Pluto before it reaches Newcastle. Also have you heard of Chester Road and the Grindon Broadway? Nowhere near the 56!

(03 Mar 2026, 11:49 am)Economic505 wrote Hmm, you wouldn’t get the 56 from Sunderland , as it goes via Washington, the moon and Pluto before it reaches Newcastle. Also have you heard of Chester Road and the Grindon Broadway? Nowhere near the 56!

No, that was my point. The 56 and 27 serve places along the route, they are not end-to-end Newcastle to Sunderland/South Shields routes. X24/X34 are designed for end-to-end journeys, which is covered by the Metro.

I have actually done the full 56 and 27 routes, and they aren't bad. But I wasn't saying to do that, I was saying get the Metro.

imo Blackett Street should be closed, same as the areas around the new HMRC. 

Vehicles should not be travelling through the city core.

All buses going around the outside of Newcastle with everything terminating in the same place around Haymarket / Eldon Square.

(03 Mar 2026, 11:17 am)OrangeArrow49 wrote Ideally the X24/X34 should be in Eldon Square with all the other expresses. But obviously Sunderland and South Tyneside buses go from Market Street, not Eldon Square. So Market Street or Pilgrim Street makes sense. Realistically, the X24/X34 aren't needed as the Metro exists. 27 and 56 serve places along the way, an express just duplicates the Metro.

I live in Harton, where is my metro station? The reason why the X24/X34 exist is precisely because there's no metro connection for the areas served. The 27 doesn't go anywhere near me either.

(03 Mar 2026, 2:27 pm)deanmachine wrote I live in Harton, where is my metro station? The reason why the X24/X34 exist is precisely because there's no metro connection for the areas served. The 27 doesn't go anywhere near me either.

Exactly this - same true for those living along Chester Road/The Broadway - why would they want to travel in the wrong direction to get a Metro?  This is exactly the kind of gap bus services should fill.  The idea they shouldn't exist on the basis there is a Metro at either end of the route is nonsense, taking into account everyone who lives or works on the route not served by the Metro.  As is apparent when you consider the success Stagecoach have had with the X34 in particular, introducing it commercially as a totally new midibus route in (I think) 1996 - still going strong at the same frequency with deckers.  X24 is obviously newer but still sees decent loadings in line with expected passenger flows.

(03 Mar 2026, 2:55 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Exactly this - same true for those living along Chester Road/The Broadway - why would they want to travel in the wrong direction to get a Metro?  This is exactly the kind of gap bus services should fill.  The idea they shouldn't exist on the basis there is a Metro at either end of the route is nonsense, taking into account everyone who lives or works on the route not served by the Metro.  As is apparent when you consider the success Stagecoach have had with the X34 in particular, introducing it commercially as a totally new midibus route in (I think) 1996 - still going strong at the same frequency with deckers.  X24 is obviously newer but still sees decent loadings in line with expected passenger flows.

Must admit I never really understand why the X24, serves Sunderland. There's tonnes of the South of the city which has no bus services towards Newcastle, they should keep it away like the X34 stays away from South Shields; there's more than enough services along Chester Road for Sunderland itself.

Something like:


Just throwing a random route from nowhere, there's arguably a few local links on it aswell, especially to the hospital which is also as awkward to get to since stuff like the 35 were pulled from the areas.

(03 Mar 2026, 3:19 pm)Storx wrote Must admit I never really understand why the X24, serves Sunderland. There's tonnes of the South of the city which has no bus services towards Newcastle, they should keep it away like the X34 stays away from South Shields; there's more than enough services along Chester Road for Sunderland itself.

Something like:


Just throwing a random route from nowhere, there's arguably a few local links on it aswell, especially to the hospital which is also as awkward to get to since stuff like the 35 were pulled from the areas.

I think it is probably because once you're as far as the Hospital area, you pretty much may as well make the run into the City Centre as it will generate fares (hospital, uni etc) and fits into the 3 bus rota (and operationally convenient re layovers, changeovers).  I'd guess from your example map that doing something more ambitious along those lines would mean adding in an extra resource which might then not stack up commercially.  Definitely agree though that there are chunks of Sunderland South that are lacking useful cross links since the likes of 6, 18, 19 were all pulled over the years in favour of the managed decline of the 'change in the city centre' mindset.

(03 Mar 2026, 3:39 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote I think it is probably because once you're as far as the Hospital area, you pretty much may as well make the run into the City Centre as it will generate fares (hospital, uni etc) and fits into the 3 bus rota (and operationally convenient re layovers, changeovers).  I'd guess from your example map that doing something more ambitious along those lines would mean adding in an extra resource which might then not stack up commercially.  Definitely agree though that there are chunks of Sunderland South that are lacking useful cross links since the likes of 6, 18, 19 were all pulled over the years in favour of the managed decline of the 'change in the city centre' mindset.

Aye can't disagree really.

It's a shame though as it could be an opportunity to link those links together with a service which is actually useful for people going to a place they can't get to (Newcastle). It's where BSIP should've been used rather than upping the 56 imo. Even better if it somehow done parts of North Sunderland away from the 56 aswell.

There are many people who go city centre to city centre on the X24, presumably because it's much cheaper than the Metro, and not that much slower. Fair few also get on in the University/Western Hill/Chesters area.

The issue is coming the other way - until you get to The Broadway, the X24 is the only bus going into Fawcett Street since they pulled the 2. This has a knock-on effect with delays. I've just moved to doing them permanently and there's been a few times I've had only one or two on at Gateshead yet dropped off half a bus load in Fawcett Street. It's even worse when the 16's late as they're due within a few minutes of each other.

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(03 Mar 2026, 3:49 pm)Storx wrote Aye can't disagree really.

It's a shame though as it could be an opportunity to link those links together with a service which is actually useful for people going to a place they can't get to (Newcastle). It's where BSIP should've been used rather than upping the 56 imo. Even better if it somehow done parts of North Sunderland away from the 56 aswell.

Like the X36 did?

(03 Mar 2026, 4:44 pm)F114TML wrote There are many people who go city centre to city centre on the X24, presumably because it's much cheaper than the Metro, and not that much slower. Fair few also get on in the University/Western Hill/Chesters area.

The issue is coming the other way - until you get to The Broadway, the X24 is the only bus going into Fawcett Street since they pulled the 2. This has a knock-on effect with delays. I've just moved to doing them permanently and there's been a few times I've had only one or two on at Gateshead yet dropped off half a bus load in Fawcett Street. It's even worse when the 16's late as they're due within a few minutes of each other.

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Like the X36 did?

yeah some fair point, be interesting to see if people are connecting to it from Sunderland, as there's not many people living in the centre. Arguably would give you data where people want the bus really.

Must say GoNorthEast made a right cock up along Chester Road mind, surprised Stagecoach haven't looked at upping services along there to compensate for it tbh. 

Btw, the X36 took ages and pissed around in Boldon didn't it, if I remember right? Plus cost an arm and a leg.

(03 Mar 2026, 4:44 pm)F114TML wrote Like the X36 did?

When I first started we were still doing the X36, probably the least used bus service I've ever driven short of something like the 237. The only time it ever got busy was when you got to Redhouse School before a 16 at 3:15.

I live in the North of Sunderland and used the X36 a fair bit. It saved a trek to Southwick Green to get the 56 and was also quicker (or at least seemed quicker) than the 56 to Newcastle.

The issue, in my opinion, is that the estates that it went through (Carley Hill, Withereack, Redhouse and Downhill) were dominated by Stagecoach. I think if Stagecoach ran the X36 or an alternative Newcastle express via Sunderland North Estates (or even reinstate lost links with the 7 via Newcastle Road) it would be more successful.

(03 Mar 2026, 12:27 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote No, that was my point. The 56 and 27 serve places along the route, they are not end-to-end Newcastle to Sunderland/South Shields routes. X24/X34 are designed for end-to-end journeys, which is covered by the Metro.

I have actually done the full 56 and 27 routes, and they aren't bad. But I wasn't saying to do that, I was saying get the Metro.

I live in South Tyneside,   I use the X34 regularly as it stops top of my street.   No metro nearby and nearest metro is 20 mins walk which is also the Sunderland line not the Shields line 

The X34 exists as it serves areas the metro doesn't 

You don't know what you are talking about here.  Id swot up if I were you

(03 Mar 2026, 5:28 pm)morritt89 wrote I live in the North of Sunderland and used the X36 a fair bit. It saved a trek to Southwick Green to get the 56 and was also quicker (or at least seemed quicker) than the 56 to Newcastle.

The issue, in my opinion, is that the estates that it went through (Carley Hill, Withereack, Redhouse and Downhill)  were dominated by Stagecoach.  I think if Stagecoach ran the X36 or an alternative Newcastle express via Sunderland North Estates (or even reinstate lost links with the 7 via Newcastle Road) it would be more successful.

To be honest, I think the £££, where you could make it work is serving Nissan, at peak times to/from Newcastle since it's against the Sunderland peak, even working with them - https://www.google.com/maps/@54.9226066,...?entry=ttu, ie. could that be a bus stop?

If you can get it down to 25-30 minutes, it's nearly half the time of the 56 and I'm sure there's plenty of people coming from Stagecoach (or Arriva) areas who'd appreciate the faster link rather than sitting on the 56 around the doors. 

Similar to how the X24A works with Doxford Park.

(03 Mar 2026, 6:15 pm)Storx wrote To be honest, I think the £££, where you could make it work is serving Nissan, at peak times to/from Newcastle since it's against the Sunderland peak, even working with them - https://www.google.com/maps/@54.9226066,...?entry=ttu, ie. could that be a bus stop?

If you can get it down to 25-30 minutes, it's nearly half the time of the 56 and I'm sure there's plenty of people coming from Stagecoach (or Arriva) areas who'd appreciate the faster link rather than sitting on the 56 around the doors. 

Similar to how the X24A works with Doxford Park.

I agree on a variation that serves Nissan, not sure if the road infrastructure is there for public transport but I would have the bus run along Downhill Lane/Follingsby Lane through to Follingsby Park to pick Amazon Workers etc.

(03 Mar 2026, 6:38 pm)Malarkey wrote I agree on a variation that serves Nissan, not sure if the road infrastructure is there for public transport but I would have the bus run along Downhill Lane/Follingsby Lane through to Follingsby Park to pick Amazon Workers etc.

Honestly agreed, I was literally seconds from typing it but thought it might not be possible.

There's also massive potential for a night time service aswell since the Nissan shifts are fixed and the night shift ends at 1am. There's plenty of Metro's and trains during the day, but past 11pm there's nothing. Surely there's some demand for a semi fast service of something between the regions two largest cities, added bonus of a huge employer in the middle of it.

If any service is going to work, it's arguably this one - even if it stopped more between Newcastle and Heworth ie. via Sunderland Road and shadow the Metro line.

(03 Mar 2026, 6:49 pm)Storx wrote Honestly agreed, I was literally seconds from typing it but thought it might not be possible.

There's also massive potential for a night time service aswell since the Nissan shifts are fixed and the night shift ends at 1am. There's plenty of Metro's and trains during the day, but past 11pm there's nothing. Surely there's some demand for a semi fast service of something between the regions two largest cities, added bonus of a huge employer in the middle of it.

If any service is going to work, it's arguably this one - even if it stopped more between Newcastle and Heworth ie. via Sunderland Road and shadow the Metro line.

I had this in mind including serving Team Valley.

(03 Mar 2026, 2:27 pm)deanmachine wrote I live in Harton, where is my metro station? The reason why the X24/X34 exist is precisely because there's no metro connection for the areas served. The 27 doesn't go anywhere near me either.

Took the words right out of my mouth

(03 Mar 2026, 12:27 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote No, that was my point. The 56 and 27 serve places along the route, they are not end-to-end Newcastle to Sunderland/South Shields routes. X24/X34 are designed for end-to-end journeys, which is covered by the Metro.

I have actually done the full 56 and 27 routes, and they aren't bad. But I wasn't saying to do that, I was saying get the Metro.

That mean the X77/X78 arent needed then, thats covered by the Metro to the Airport?

(03 Mar 2026, 7:23 pm)Malarkey wrote I had this in mind including serving Team Valley.

Aye could do, not going to lie I was thinking something like this and create new links in the Sunderland side rather than duplicating everything else



Could easily work with Nexus and get shot of the 99 or 599 because they're both not needed. The hospital links aren't great from the North side and it would fix some of the Pallion issues at the Northern side since the 10/11 changes ie. you don't have to go on a tour around the loop.

There's always the option of extending the 4 over to Boldon Asda from Downhill, to offer connections to services 30 to South Shields & X34 to Newcastle.

Unfortunately, the biggest problem I find with Stagecoach in the North East is there just is not any innovation by them to start new routes, unless of course they are heavily subsidised & contracted routes...

(03 Mar 2026, 9:27 pm)S830OFT wrote Unfortunately, the biggest problem I find with Stagecoach in the North East is there just is not any innovation by them to start new routes, unless of course they are heavily subsidised & contracted routes...

Apart from the X24 and X34 of course - where this discussion started, with the mad suggestion that they shouldn't exist...

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(03 Mar 2026, 5:28 pm)morritt89 wrote I live in the North of Sunderland and used the X36 a fair bit. It saved a trek to Southwick Green to get the 56 and was also quicker (or at least seemed quicker) than the 56 to Newcastle.

The issue, in my opinion, is that the estates that it went through (Carley Hill, Withereack, Redhouse and Downhill)  were dominated by Stagecoach.  I think if Stagecoach ran the X36 or an alternative Newcastle express via Sunderland North Estates (or even reinstate lost links with the 7 via Newcastle Road) it would be more successful.

I think this is the problem with a North Sunderland 'express' - unlike X24 where you can just head straight along Chester Road (pretty much the same as a car journey), not piddle around all the individual estates, for some reason that's exactly what seems to happen north of the river.  Weaving through the various council estates is always going to feel slow and circuitous.  If they wanted an express to work in that area, an X56 that runs North Hylton Road/Washington Road but then via FBP instead of a magical mystery tour of Washington and Gateshead would be more likely to appeal I'd guess.

(03 Mar 2026, 9:27 pm)S830OFT wrote There's always the option of extending the 4 over to Boldon Asda from Downhill, to offer connections to services 30 to South Shields & X34 to Newcastle.

Unfortunately, the biggest problem I find with Stagecoach in the North East is there just is not any innovation by them to start new routes, unless of course they are heavily subsidised & contracted routes...

The won't take the risk because (feel like a broken record here) why invest in sonething you're very likely going to have taken off you very soon?

Plus, the group is owned by an investment firm, who want it to look as good as possible on paper.

(04 Mar 2026, 4:43 am)F114TML wrote The won't take the risk because (feel like a broken record here) why invest in sonething you're very likely going to have taken off you very soon?

Plus, the group is owned by an investment firm, who want it to look as good as possible on paper.

That's true, although without risk you get the same old & that income is not always as guaranteed. For example, a new bus service being set up by a competitor happens to take all the usual Stagecoach passengers, or indeed just generally people finding alternatives, or indeed big retail businesses or places of employment/education leave the area. Then what...

Even though, between Sunderland and Newcastle I'd personally use the 56 or X24 over the Metro to commute, just a lot less stress in many ways, even if it means a slightly longer journey.

Some routes that I would love to see, but can't see happening anytime soon:

- Sunderland To Middlesbrough via Doxford International, Dalton Park and Easington Colliery then onto Hartlepool, Seaton Carew and Middlesbrough with an extension built onto service 1. Also allows peak service X1 to be withdrawn in the process...

- Seasonal Open Top Bus between Sunderland, Roker, Seaburn, Whitburn, Marsden Bay, Coast Road, Ocean Road and South Shields, which would be more direct than the E1 during the summer.

- Extending the X20/30 onto Heworth, Gateshead & Newcastle. The 30 originally went to Heworth around 2003 time, although would be nice to grow these routes & allow other parts of South Tyneside, including South Shields to have more of a direct link to Newcastle that isn't on-board one of those awful new Metro's.

- Coach Service between Newcastle and Edinburgh. I'm sure this would be very popular if promoted well & timed to fit when most people want to travel.

- More Express Buses at Peak Time - Generally Limited Stop. For example, an 'X39' between Newcastle and Dumpling Hall, possibly starting from a business park alike Cobalt or Quorum. These would be very beneficial for once the new Government buildings open up in Newcastle City Centre...

(04 Mar 2026, 4:43 am)F114TML wrote The won't take the risk because (feel like a broken record here) why invest in sonething you're very likely going to have taken off you very soon?

Plus, the group is owned by an investment firm, who want it to look as good as possible on paper.

Don't disagree, it's more the BSIP money which should've been to do stuff this sort of stuff. Like Northumberland has done with stuff like the 777 and X30. If they don't work then that's fine, but it was always worth a punt. 

It's better than imo, wasting it on stuff like the 1, 21 and 56. I know some will say that they have more of a chance but the vast majority of people, unless they have an extreme timetable obsession, really couldn't give a toss whether it's every 12 or 15 minutes. It's literally no difference and if the buses are at capacity, then there's clearly no need for tax payer funds anyway. 

Bonus points if you can get rid of some of the crap like the 99 in the process.

(04 Mar 2026, 12:15 pm)S830OFT wrote - More Express Buses at Peak Time - Generally Limited Stop. For example, an 'X39' between Newcastle and Dumpling Hall, possibly starting from a business park alike Cobalt or Quorum. These would be very beneficial for once the new Government buildings open up in Newcastle City Centre...

So... the X82?

Also most people get off along West Road apparently, speaking to Walker drivers.