(10 Apr 2014, 5:35 pm)Marcus wrote For me it would look like this;
* I'm pretty sure all Unit 1's drive the mainstream services as a result of experience and that all drivers start on Unit 2 and rise up to Unit 1.
Hexham Unit 1 - TEN, X84/X85
Hexham Unit 2 - H11, AD122 and all the other local services
Percy Main Unit 1 - Cobalts, Coaster
Percy Main Unit 2 - 9, 17, 17A, 40, 41
I know this was probably brought up when Riverside was formed, but I do know all Winlaton changeovers happen at the Metrocentre, and all Winlaton drivers no longer have the 5 at the beginning of their driver number but a 4 then a 5-9 number following it. I'm think Gateshead drivers got lucky and other than a few services transferred from Saltmeadows (driven by Saltmeadows drivers?), nothings really changed for them other than no parking spaces offered to neither near the depot (other than the main road). I wouldn't know where to start with their Units, other than that I know Unit 4 is for the X66 and other routes that require experienced drivers.
Also worth noting, I was told by one of Chester's Unit 1 drivers that their rotor is 36 weeks long and they work their way down it (obviously repeating several duties), however when the shift changes occur I believe the duty numbers stay the same but the shifts change slightly as a result. Basically to sum up this marathon post;
Unit 1 - Experienced drivers and Mainstream routes
Unit 2 - Less Experienced drivers and Less Mainstream routes
And the 71 falls into this category?
When it was the 21a, then it obviously fitted in due to the 21s interworking. If it still sits in Unit 1, then it is obviously just a legacy from that, other than anything else.