(26 Apr 2020, 10:07 pm)JP6004 wrote 43 and 44 were Diamond
West durham Swift was X70/X71/X30/X31

Loading were great on 43/44 however when more direct services were introduced on the old X43 service (M6 etc) they reduced service to half hourly.

I only used 43/44 between whickham and burnopfield. Or if i was out drinking in town and caught last bus home. Didnt like the route being carved up, but if people travels warranted it then can understand.
But now that citaros reallocated to the 6, theres been no real downgrade other than the fact it's not branded

Stanley Shuttle was the original brand. Think there was a few variations of the numbering system. 43/43A/44/44B and the like. 
Got my last ride on a Lance on whichever one went to Dipton on the way to Stanley. Destinations non existent and the number scribbled on a piece of paper. That would have probably been just before the 2006 changes when all the repainting was going on and everything was all over the place. 

I think the Marshall Capitals and Dennis Darts had a vinyl logo and corporate livery when they were first introduced on the routes.