re some of the comment above....

1) waiting at durham bus station for 2 hours for a 21 to low fell. Asked 6+ drivers GNE if they could radio control and see what the crack was. All said radio not working so what's the point?
2) running buses on empty to catch up... 21 ( AGAIN) sanding in low fell in the rain, waited 15 minutes for a ? 12 minute service... bus appears.... not in service but empty. Next 2 buses in service but full. 4th bus managed to get on and pay £5 quid for the privilege of standing all the way to newcastle. Time from standing at bus stop to arriving in Newcastle 1 hour 10 minutes.