(08 Feb 2023, 6:59 pm)mb134 wrote A couple of boards can deal with single decker allocation, but there are quite a few trips per day which need deckers. There's usually a couple in the morning which are hammered with schools, then the first couple after 9am heading to Morpeth are quite busy. Most trips alight and board quite a few at Ashington Bus Station too, throughout the day. Outside of the peaks it doesn't really need deckers, but then again do many routes? 

They've been hampered quite a bit recently with drivers on the sick I believe, but I've heard that they have quite a few drivers currently in training as well as some full licence holders starting/coming back imminently. The Commander was never withdrawn or anything, was just waiting for parts. It's covering 7530/1 for refurb at the moment.

Thanks for that, had a feeling that was what it was like with the 35's and how it was pretty much allocated. Mind noticed there's been more singles on since they've lost a lot of Decker's.

Yeah that's fair wasn't sure whether it was sickness or a complete lack of vehicles, they do they seem rather short in spares - noticed a Solo has been on the 2 from the start of day again.