(14 Dec 2022, 8:26 pm)L469 YVK wrote Would the CMA approve this though?

Don't see why not, there's technically already competition with the Metro really and the Stagecoach 1/22/38/62/63 for parts of the Coast Road depending where you are. The Hexham/Ashington swap was much worse in terms of competition and gave Arriva a monopoly in Ashington and also the Stagecoach Darlington sale to Arriva which again has no competition at all.