Funny you should say that as when I was down Hartlepool Monday morning a 23 pulled up just short of the stand in Victoria Road. The passengers all set off to walk towards it, the driver waved them away. He then got off and stood having a fag. Meanwhile the X35 turned up and got all the passengers! The X35 is due first mind. Odd that they have timed the 23 just behind it!

I thought that about the times in Peterlee today as the X35 comes at 28, 58 in Peterlee Bus Station towards Hartlepool while the 23 comes 5 minutes later.

Also do the drivers only have 30 minutes for a break for doing another round trip on the 23 as the 23 is not the most reliable service in the world and if you journey gets badly delayed but the next journey is fine but then has to leave Park Lane late because a previous journey had a problem.

Here is a photo of 2811 on the 23 today
https://www.flickr.com/photos/127079988@...657898681/