(14 Sep 2017, 6:08 pm)Michael wrote Hopefully they don't. 

Wonder when the prices will appear etc, be interesting to see what they'll use on the routes, also wonder what the route numbers will be and the frequency... hopefully not 3 times a day

I would guess at some sort of interworking at one end or another.
Ditto the services operating on the back of a scholars service or two.

(14 Sep 2017, 6:32 pm)nk55 wrote Good on them, about time someone challenged the monopoly of gne in Consett/Stanley area, also if the fares are priced right gne might loose out......expect buses 5 mins in front though!!

In days gone by, a spare vehicle kicking around the depot would have been used. In the days of the 21/221 I remember all sorts appearing. Ditto the 13/194 - although a spare MetroRider generally appeared.
As the fleet gets smaller and smaller and depot spares decrease, it reduces the chances of the spoiler happening. Certainly in the short-term.
Could we be talking loans?

I really don't want GNE to ruin this.