(09 Sep 2020, 9:56 am)Adrian wrote It shouldn't be a problem on standard service buses. There should be no standees if you're operating to 50%-60% of capacity.

What's not clear from facebook is whether those commenting are referring to the S suffixed services. Unfortunately the Department of Education have disgracefully excluded these services from social distancing, suggesting that all kids are part of the same 'bubble'. But that only applies to dedicated services, which I guess is why GNE have chosen to suffix their schools duplicates with an S.

Pre-COVID, when I'd travel down to Bishop in the afternoon, I'd often accidentally travel through Durham at around 3pm, which resulted in me getting trapped on a bus full of kids (made worse by the awful traffic at Nevilles Cross!)
It wasn't uncommon to see the X21 quite obviously over capacity, with people sitting on the tables, three to a row, sitting on the floor upstairs etc. That was with the bus being relatively empty before it hit Durham. So I wouldn't be surprised if even with the duplicate there's overloading. 

I'd imagine it'd be the same with other routes