(04 Jun 2021, 8:08 am)R852 PRG wrote I imagine this move is part of a wider strategy from Arriva whereby the X93/X94 will shortly be rescinded to either Go North East or Transdev and Arriva will initiate a service to Blackpool instead. Interesting that they decide to deploy 16-year-old B7s onto the Scarborough route during the one summer where they have a staycation market to capture. It's as if someone in the higher echelons of the company is just memeing. You'd think they'd just hold off for a few months and do the necessary repaints during the low season.

Certainly an interesting hill for them to choose to die on, if you'll excuse the pun.

I don't think Arriva would run a Blackpool service haha!

But where the NE operations stand as I've said many tomes before, I reckon:

Northumbria:
- Ashington & Jesmond > GNE 
- Blyth > Stagecoach

Durham & Tees:
- Belmont, Darlington, Redcar > Stagecoach
- Stockton > GNE
- Whitby > Transdev

**Route deals**
- 306 full Stagecoach Newcastle operation & operated from Walkergate
- 685 full Stagecoach Newcastle & North West operation
- X12 full GNE operation & operated from Stockton
- X93/X94 full Transdev operation