(08 Dec 2021, 5:58 am)Dan wrote I’d imagine the gradual replacement of the Streetlites with StreetDecks on boards which have large loadings will be planned - indeed one has been converted already for a busy PM trip from Durham.

If nothing else over the last 12 months, Go North East has adapted their vehicle allocation to match demand. Single-deck services have been converted to double-deck in the main, but there have also been services downsized from single-deck to minibus.

It's good to see that is happening now with the 50, and I had noticed some deckers without taking much notice to their boards. 

I notice the peak extra short (07.40 from the Galleries) now seems to be a decker allocation, whereas it's regularly ran with a Versa in the past. I'd say it's worth further looking into options with that, such as starting it from Concord and running as an express, serving normal 50 stops until Ayton and then non-stop before using every stop between Pity Me and Durham, as per the X21 route, rather than the Old Pit Lane/Finchale Rd route. As I say, when I've used that run, it's always been full of Durham Sixth Form and New College students from Washington, so not sure what the point is of sending an already full bus around a lengthy route. Having a quicker option that's well publicised and works with start times, would probably be enough for students to wait for that one. 

(08 Dec 2021, 8:41 am)Andreos1 wrote Gives the depot the perfect opportunity to take a Merc off the road for some remedial work and swap a spare Streetlite on to a peak board off Heworth or alongside the schools?
*flashbacks to when they stuck Darts on the 194*

As I mentioned above, the Omni's don't have that same claustrophobic feel and when one ended up on a 4, it wasn't too much a spacial downgrade from a Merc.

Similarly to the student 50s, it'll be the Amazon shift times or school start/finish times that will be problematic having Streetlites on there, but I know the duplicates (Heworth to Follingsby shorts) have been ran by deckers.

I don't think Washington have a spare Citaro anymore. 5292 spent a couple days there last week, but looks to have been temporary as it's back at Deptford now.