(15 Sep 2015, 7:45 pm)NK53 TKT wrote For a return from Brunton Lane to Bedlington on the X22 highlights your point
And also Arriva say they have dedicated drivers however I don't think so because the number of times I have seen Sapphire drivers on the X15 is quite shocking
The dedicated drivers were Sapphire trained on the vehicles a couple of months before they entered service. It was in either May or June 2014.
The rotas are exactly the same as before (changes in May allowed conventional drivers on X15/X18), all Sapphire drivers are on the conventional rotas (saloons and deckers), hence why they are driving on 34/35/X14/X15/X18/X20/X21/X22 routes.
Certain Sapphire drivers are also on scholars rotas, so services 295/AM 44.