Some of you on here are really blinded by shiny new things mind so much Arriva hate on here just because they don't buy new buses all the time. I might be different but personally I'd rather sit on a 10 year old bus (which is not old and doesn't need replacing) rather than sitting on a Gateshead Central Taxi service because my local company doesn't fancy running the service at night or having to use a taxi because my service just disappeared over night. Just looking at North of the Tyne on an Arriva vs Stagecoach vs GNE level.

I can't name one cut in the past 5 years between both Arriva and Stagecoach (admit I don't follow Stagecoach so might be something there with the 18/32/32A that's changed believe they were within 5 years) but can name some improvements. X30 direct to Blyth, 57A on Sundays, X24 direct to Sunderland, 22 extension to Cobalt, 1 extension to Cobalt etc.

Then there's GNE; 5 no longer through the tunnel,309 cut to 20 minutes, 310 cut to 20 minutes, 58 scrapped (no link to Gateshead), 1 cut to 20 minutes, 42 abandoned East of Wallsend, 40/41 butchered in half. 11/19/40/41/42 served by Gateshead Taxis in the evening. Improvements 19 evening 3 runs from Cobalt.

Arriva really aren't that bad; First is a bad company who've just shut depots down recently as they just don't fancy them anymore leaving places completely abandoned. I really don't think Arriva Northumbria will struggle to sell any of their depots regardless to the vehicles they have there heck Go Ahead just bought a depot in Manchester (GoNorthWest) from First which was an absolute basket case and inherited an ancient fleet from there - someone would be interested. Arriva's problem areas are down south in the Medway and Midlands where the fleet really is getting old and they'll be the ones they'll struggle to shift imo.

Just to add in their last accounts:
Arriva Midlands: 80k Profit
Arriva Midlands North: 2.86m Loss
Arriva Kent and Surrey: 2.32m Loss

Whereas we're I believe Arriva's strongest area:
Arriva Durham County: 4.429m Profit
Arriva Northumbria: 1.50m Profit
Arriva Yorkshire: 4.41m Profit

which is higher than GNE.