(17 Apr 2019, 3:27 pm)Dan wrote Just playing devil's advocate, but why can't the boards be adjusted so that the daytime 'gas bus' services run all of the late services too?

This is common practice at Go North East, with the Prince Bishops running off the 20 in early evening, to run 60s on a night in Sunderland. It means that the daytime service isn't "downgraded", but the evening service still gets the "upgrade".

It must be a nightmare for Stagecoach trying to work out how much it costs to operate the route, with such a mixed allocation... From MAN E200 to gas buses!

Yes it bugged me to no end when Walkergate done it and thought the very same - as it was how the 12s ran into the evenings off 39/40. It is something that will happen at some point I believe - perhaps just a trial this time around on a bigger scale (even though it's obvious that savings will be made...), but surprised Sunderland has also been told now to do it.