(23 May 2022, 12:58 pm)Storx wrote Not sure what this really has to do with downgrading a route mind but surely

08:00 - X71
09:15 - X72
10:30 - X72
11:45 - X71
PVR 5

08:00 - X30
08:45 - X30
09:30 - X31
10:15 - X31
...
PVR 3

X45 Standalone
08:00 CON
09:15 NEW
10:30 CON
11:45 NEW
13:00 CON
PVR 5

Would be the better allocations...

6356 - 6360 - X45
6362 - 6375 - X1
6301 - 6307, 6361, 6376, 6377 - 50 / X1 Spares
6331 - 6333 - 21 / X21 Spares
6344 - 6352 - X30/X31/X70/X71
6338 - 6343, 6065 - 6068 - X5/X15/Spares

It makes much sense than moving B9's and B5's around for absolutely no reason painting everything again.

Only issue with the X45 going standalone is that you'd be stretching the driving & duty hours. It's okayish an Arriva Blyth depot driver doing a 5 hour stint on the 308 as they effectively walk out and are back at base or a short walk to the depot.

Plus, would it not be simpler keeping all the Consett 'XLines' routes the same type? If the E400MMCs do all of them and StreetDecks end up on the 21, it would simplify the decker manufacturers across both Consett & CLS too.

Consett - ADL & Volvo
CLS - WrightBus (Integral) & Volvo (x3 B5TLs spare)

So you'd have something like this

E400MMC
- 6338-40 - X31
- 6341-49 - X45/X71/X72 (All bike friendly)
- 6350-51 - Spare

StreetDeck
- 6331 - X21
- 6332-33 - Washington Spares
- 6356-62 - X21
- 6363-76 - X1
- 6377 - X21

B5TL
- 6308-13 - 47
- 6314 - CLS Spare
- 6334-35 - CLS Spare

B5LH
- 6056-63 - 16/16A
- 6064 - Consett Spare
- 6065-70 - Re-deployed to backseat role

B9TL
- 6043-44 - Riverside (1x spare and 1x extra for 58)
- 6045-48 - X5/X15