(27 Sep 2023, 6:42 pm)Andreos1 wrote Guessing the E400s they're throwing on the 21 aren't cut out for the A19.Is it any wonder when they are only 4x for the X10 and no dedicated spares? Arriva's Classic E400s at Ashington (14/64/15 plates) have had a way harder stretch given their age before 7563-81 replaced them.
A re-work of the Consett rotas & interworking patterns (X30/X31 split from the X45) would solve the issue and allow a single fleet of E400MMC at Riverside covering both the X10 & X21.
Totally get that it would be 'inefficient' to have remote reliefs at Stanley, but curtailing the 6 at Stanley (maybe re-interworking with the 12) and extending the X31 to Lanchester in place would level the driving hours out to compensate for the remote reliefs. Not forgetting reducing the cost and occurance of recoveries from as far as the Wear Valley and Teesside.