(29 Oct 2023, 12:33 pm)mb134 wrote How do you know they're parked up spare though? They might be needing engineering attention, it's very common for multiple buses per day being off with defects.


I mean I'd class it as actively swapping them? They could just sit there and let things get later and later, but swapping the vehicles available to them by using layover is actively trying to improve service. Same with if GNE were to do it at Consett as you've suggested - I think doing it at Eldon Square might be a bit different, realistically in your X10 example there's a fair chance the bus it's replacing on the X21 probably can't hack an X10.

I think it's also different to the Deptford example. Since the bus station is literally attached to the depot it's far easier for them to fetch a bus that engineering have finished with, and it's very easy for them to steal a bus from the depot if a breakdown has happened somewhere.

Aye that's fair like. Surely even with the X10 there'd be something that'll come in beforehand that can do it. ie an Angel Streetdeck or a B9 from somewhere and just do a three way swap.

X10 -> X21, 21 -> X10, X10 -> 21 for example. They're on pretty much every day lately anyway. 

Not sure about Deptford though, it's no real different to Haymarket where Jesmond used to do regulation quite well, the inspector with his clipboard used to be always out redirecting buses across stands to sort out stuff there. Sure Belmont is the same in Durham aswell but I'm very rarely down there. I'm not 100% sure whether it was just on breaks but sure Jesmond used to regularly have a bus on standby parked up in the drop off stand that's never used in Haymarket at the Junction (pub) side.