(16 Apr 2014, 2:05 pm)Marcus wrote Do you mean as in the drivers? If so, it tends to be miscellenous drivers, and when the special services come into action in the festive season otherwise it tends to be just sucked into the mid duties. The best person you can ask for that one would be an actual driver, but I think that's the way it works. I've seen a few drivers come in from Newcastle then when they come back down from the Black Horse their blind says Birtley so I get on and it ends at the end of Birtley before spinning around at the top and going back to Chester, so to someone who isn't aware it seems like more Chester 21's are running than Durham 21's. I'm not sure if they are late runners or are actual scheduled services, but I think the Diamond has a similar thing with Craghead.
Some of those somes to Birtley Coach and Horses used to be timetabled (pre N21 and recent changes) the last bus of the night used to end at the Coach and swing around at Eighton Lodge to Chester.
It would make sense if it worked on an ad-hoc basis. I've seen quite a few 21's dead on stand at Birtley Northdene and start working from there. Assume its a result of congestion. Almost turns your flagship route into a local service!