(30 Sep 2020, 8:59 pm)L469 YVK wrote 1 & 2 would be Stagecoach as they're Blyth routes. Agree with what you're saying but would the CMA agree after the red meat fiasco?

My mistake with the 1 and 2 in Blyth. Can't see a big issue with Blyth and Ashington they don't really compete with GNE or Stagecoach anyway as it is tbh but obviously it'll be easier having someone else outside the area. Jesmond I suppose GNE could say they're competing against Stagecoach in the Killingworth / Gosforth areas, Stagecoach could say they're offering competition in North Tyneside but I'd prefer to have the big 3 rather than the big 2, lack of competition never ends well.

Having Stagecoach and GNE together never seems to go too well, Sunderland is suffering quite badly lately as combined they both just can't get it to work and the changes aren't positive most the time and neither of them particularly have an impressive fleet, it's pretty much become GNE's dumping ground for Citaros they can't use anywhere else.