(01 Oct 2015, 8:01 pm)S813 FVK On the Toon Link matter: I think it would be logical to assume that it will be Omnicities operating the revised X30/X31/X32 with 5250 and 5253 being repainted black (5254 and 5273 will probably follow). Obviously, 4 won't be enough to cover the PVR so it could be possible that some of the currently branded Omnis will transfer to Stanley.
Sadly we don't really know what the changes to the services in the Newcastle area including the Highwayman and current Toon Link services are, so it's hard to guess completely what allocation changes will occur, however if no other services join the Toon Link brand at Riverside I imagine that the PVR on the current Toon Link services would drop with the 31 no longer running via the Metrocentre would probably cut the journey time which should see the PVR drop so I think the above could happen. Alternatively I think a red spare from another depot could possibly be repainted black.
