(05 Nov 2022, 9:13 am)L469 YVK wrote 43/44/45 are an alright set of routes to be fair minus the frequency reductions to combat driver shortages.
51 & 54 could be interworked with the 317 if kept hourly......or the 54 could be merged into a new X62 & X63 with the 54 running as an X62.
Don't know about the 55.
685 would become full Stagecoach.
52 & 53 aren't too bad although not exactly money makers......but Stagecoach have made a good go of the 10/11 and 317 which are 'local' routes too.
The 10/11 and 317 are Nexus contracts...I'd hardly give them credit for making a good go of them, that's what they've been contracted to do. It could be Go North East or more likely Gateshead Central Taxis running them by March.
If you exclude them, Stagecoach don't currently operate commercially within the area, they operate within the city of Newcastle. Arriva operate to Cramlington, Whitley Bay etc so it makes sense for the 43/44/45 and 51/52/53/54 to stay with them.
The 55 I could actually see in Stagecoach's network - most likely I see Arriva withdrawing it and it ending up a Nexus contract that Stagecoach could win.
I agree the 685 would make much more sense with Stagecoach.