(22 Sep 2021, 12:12 am)Stanleyone wrote In the current climate,  I'm MG would love to have those nat ex drivers back on locals. If the coaching side does go, I would see Chester depot closing.

Quite possibly although am surprised Riverside depot is not doing the National Express work.  Washington depot I think could easily do the majority of the Chester Le Street work.  21/X21 all been done from Riverside.  

It also easy to answer why Hartlepool and Shields depots could be sold off or closed permanently.  White Stagecoach might currently want them open and are happily running them on next to no budget both ( especially Hartlepool) desperately need investment and as I understand it they the two less profitable depots in the North East area so from business sense the solution would possibly be to get rid as they can’t really be downgraded any further. I think in that case Arriva could be ruled out unless they do a complete 90 % turn and start investing again so Go North east would be most likely to buy them. Although service wise the Hartlepool 1 and Shields E services I could see staying under Stagecoach/Nat Ex.