Hi all,
Im hoping someone could shed some light on these 2 depots. I’ve been working at Stagecoach coming up on 11 years but I’m wanting a change. I know both depots you do all routes which would be a great change compared to being stuck to 1 route every day when at Stagecoach but my question is which depot is better? Percy Main have the coastal routes whereas Washington have the newer buses and the flagship X1 service(s).
Hopefully someone on here could let me know which depot they think is better?
Many thanks
(28 Jul 2026, 8:30 pm)TransitObserver wrote [ -> ]Hi all,
Im hoping someone could shed some light on these 2 depots. I’ve been working at Stagecoach coming up on 11 years but I’m wanting a change. I know both depots you do all routes which would be a great change compared to being stuck to 1 route every day when at Stagecoach but my question is which depot is better? Percy Main have the coastal routes whereas Washington have the newer buses and the flagship X1 service(s).
Hopefully someone on here could let me know which depot they think is better?
Many thanks
Percy main has the coaster 1 which is like 3/4 hours but Washington have better buses in my opinion.Message on TikTok and I’ll let you know
So Percy Main have the 301, 307/309, 317, 340/341, 342, and the 352-356, all offering different routes and scenery, and yes Washington have the newer buses, my advice, go with what your heart is telling you
I think the other thing to contend with is, these are either sides of the Tyne Tunnel. If you choose the opposite direction, are you happy to sit in tunnel traffic every day to and from work at start/end of duty.
From a route point of view, both are pretty similar to Slatyford (believe where your based).
Just urban/suburban routes where you do 10 mph for most of the route going around every housing estate, X1 aside on the short express section from Springwell to Shiney Row.
The 340/341 and Washington Locals by far the worst for it.
The 3 Arriva depots are the depots which have the best variety but understand there's a commute involved. Blyth included because of it's interworking so you'll end up everywhere every day.
(29 Jul 2026, 7:01 am)Storx wrote [ -> ]From a route point of view, both are pretty similar to Slatyford (believe where your based).
Just urban/suburban routes where you do 10 mph for most of the route going around every housing estate, X1 aside on the short express section from Springwell to Shiney Row.
The 340/341 and Washington Locals by far the worst for it.
The 3 Arriva depots are the depots which have the best variety but understand there's a commute involved. Blyth included because of it's interworking so you'll end up everywhere every day.
I have been looking at Arriva Blyth but from my understanding the hours are lower than both stagecoach and GNE, with Arriva only guaranteeing 36hrs and they work around 38hrs, which is why I’ve been looking more at GNE who guarantees 39hrs.
I don’t mind travelling, I’d have to travel a fair amount to get to either Percy Main or Washington
(28 Jul 2026, 9:41 pm)V514DFT wrote [ -> ]So Percy Main have the 301, 307/309, 317, 340/341, 342, and the 352-356, all offering different routes and scenery, and yes Washington have the newer buses, my advice, go with what your heart is telling you
My heart is telling me all sorts of things, both are a drive away from me compared to Slatyford, been looking at Arriva Blyth too.
I’ve spoke to a driver at both Percy Main and Washington and they both say that they love the depot etc so that just makes things even harder didn’t really help me at all haha
(28 Jul 2026, 8:30 pm)TransitObserver wrote [ -> ]Hi all,
Im hoping someone could shed some light on these 2 depots. I’ve been working at Stagecoach coming up on 11 years but I’m wanting a change. I know both depots you do all routes which would be a great change compared to being stuck to 1 route every day when at Stagecoach but my question is which depot is better? Percy Main have the coastal routes whereas Washington have the newer buses and the flagship X1 service(s).
Hopefully someone on here could let me know which depot they think is better?
Many thanks
(29 Jul 2026, 7:23 am)TransitObserver wrote [ -> ]I have been looking at Arriva Blyth but from my understanding the hours are lower than both stagecoach and GNE, with Arriva only guaranteeing 36hrs and they work around 38hrs, which is why I’ve been looking more at GNE who guarantees 39hrs.
I don’t mind travelling, I’d have to travel a fair amount to get to either Percy Main or Washington
I originally started at South Shields back in 1990, which in my opinion was a fabulous depot, great drivers and back then great management, the management used to get involved with drivers as work colleagues not as now ,two separate groups of staff. I now work at Sunderland Depot ( or Deptford as some still call it) and the drivers are great ( majority) I do miss the depot happiness of Shields , but you make new work mates or even friends , so you go where you wish , both depots have a variety of services, Washington do longer runs (50 South Shields to Durham) and all of Washington locals.
Good luck.
(29 Jul 2026, 7:23 am)TransitObserver wrote [ -> ]I have been looking at Arriva Blyth but from my understanding the hours are lower than both stagecoach and GNE, with Arriva only guaranteeing 36hrs and they work around 38hrs, which is why I’ve been looking more at GNE who guarantees 39hrs.
I don’t mind travelling, I’d have to travel a fair amount to get to either Percy Main or Washington
It's rather unhelpfully not quoted on the Arriva website any more, but I always thought the 36 hours was at Durham; with Blyth/Ashington being 38 or 39? I believe both Northumbria & Durham are 45 minutes unpaid break.
I've seen old Percy Main rotas. All duties start/finish at the depot, a good sized 4 day rota if that floats your boat and a decent number of weekends off.
(29 Jul 2026, 11:11 am)Chris 1 wrote [ -> ]It's rather unhelpfully not quoted on the Arriva website any more, but I always thought the 36 hours was at Durham; with Blyth/Ashington being 38 or 39? I believe both Northumbria & Durham are 45 minutes unpaid break.
I've seen old Percy Main rotas. All duties start/finish at the depot, a good sized 4 day rota if that floats your boat and a decent number of weekends off.
Hmm I’m not sure. Someone I know spoke to an Arriva driver who I’m sure was working at Blyth and they said 36hrs guaranteed but they work about 38hrs. I could be wrong but you’re right it’s stupid them not advertising it on the careers page!
I’d imagine I wouldn’t get the 4 day rota straight away, I know Washington I was told by a driver there that I’d be on 5 day rota to start with but that doesn’t bother me I’ve done 5 day weeks for the past almost 11 years. Just a hard decision on where I want to go. I’m pretty much decided on I want a fresh start, Stagecoach has gotten worse and worse each year.