(01 Oct 2013, 7:02 pm)Daniel wrote Is it not 6?
2 for the 36, 2 for the 36A and 2 for the X36?

Yes- sorry, must pay more attention! So increased to 6 from 5? Stick a Northern on with the Versa's for a few months and be done with it - no, lets wreck another couple of brand identities so that all of the 36s are matching red buses - seems a bit bonkers.

(01 Oct 2013, 7:02 pm)Daniel wrote Am I mis-reading what you are saying, or..?
That is exactly what CatsFast101 is complaining about - having two Northern deckers per day out on the 17/307...

The "Centurion" branded B10s appearing on the 9 (if that is what you are complaining about in the above quote) is another matter.

I don't have an issue with them having Northern branded spares out on any route (accidental or deliberate) - they've done the equivalent since branding started (remember the Cross Tyne 9? Always spares on there as there were only five branded buses for a larger total PVR, though that was due initially to the service being split between two depots I believe). I know that's one of the things others have complained about and its perhaps mildly disappointing but is not unreasonable.

For me the issue is when the wrong brand deliberately appears on the wrong service. So not due to the odd shortage (again, largely unavoidable) - but deliberate planned mis-branding for weeks or months on end. The Sunday stuff is a good example but Simplicity on 61 has to be the best (worst) yet. When you add the deliberate misbrands to the accidental ones, and to the Northern ones covering for brands, some services are a multicoloured mishmash. that's why I think the branding approach is a mess - and needs to be ended, or massively cut back.