(25 Apr 2022, 9:49 am)Jimmi wrote But most of the busiest runs on the 50 are now decker operated, there's even now an extra run into Durham on a morning, if anything the loadings on the busy mornings are likely to decrease as you get closer to summer once some of the places of education in Durham finish the academic year, most New College students are finished by the end of June for example.

The StreetLite's used now have a higher seating capacity than the previously used Omni's (although a slighter lower standing & overall capacity).

Most of the times I've encountered standees on the 50 it's generally just a short hop from The Galleries.

I suppose the point here is the word ‘most’. I don’t know exact numbers on this, but from the replies in this thread, I’m led to believe that the 26 isn’t as popular as the 50. Some are even suggesting that the 26 could be solo operated - but if it does need a full size single decker - at what point do they say the interworking pattern isn’t appropriate anymore? Would they also give the 204 around Durham, a double decker allocation just because it happened to work timings wise with X5/X15? Seems like a waste of double decker to me.

Lots of cuts/realignment of services could happen over the next few months so it’ll be interesting to see what happens but a standalone 50 (which it used to before?) if the 50 could justify being fully double deckers seems like the right move imo. As mentioned, Percy Main lost a few routes so 26/5 together from there may be an option.