(27 Dec 2019, 9:52 am)Jamie M wrote 21 X66 and 53/54 were way busier than anything else coming through Gateshead.

Unusual for deckers not to appear on X66, perhaps 3976 had a part to play. That's my bit of unnecessary speculation for the day.

Most the passengers I could see on the buses yesterday were people heading to the Boxing Day sales in Newcastle and at the Metrocentre, although numbers weren't big on some a fair few were cash fares so likely made enough to at very least breakeven.

My thinking now is only core routes in and out of Newcastle/Metrocentre are particularly worth running on Boxing Day after my observations yesterday, despite statements I've made in the past, I now think there ain't much market to run deeper into County Durham especially Arriva territory.