(24 Aug 2022, 5:49 pm)peter wrote I doubt the 46 will change operators if Arriva withdrew it, it's mostly duplicated by other services, it wouldn't be money well spent by Nexus. I could see the Featherstone Grove and Hollywood Avenue sections merged into other services. Again, I think the 55 would sooner be withdrawn than pass to another operator as it's also a duplication, perhaps a route change on the 52 would cover some parts.
The 47 is a hospital shuttle, it's not likely to get extended to Throckley anytime soon, in fact I'm pretty sure it's funded for by the NHS Trust. It's more likely to be tacked onto the end of another service (either vehicle or operational wise) more than anything else.
While your obsession with the 808 is nice, you've got to be realistic, it's not a good fit for Arriva's network at all, it goes nowhere near where they operate and Arriva don't run all that many Nexus contracts these days. GNE and Stagecoach actually operate to other places served by the 808 but the fact is no large operator is going to run a bus dead all the way up to Otterburn and back, for a once a day service carrying a handful of people...Phoenix are the most suitable with their little Orion's.
I've always thought Not in Service buses could be utilised for once each way services. With regards to Arriva operating the 808 my point was they a based in Blyth, like Phoenix, but at Haymarket Phoenix stand out amongst the Arriva buses, so Arriva could operate it and compliment the 47 (Fenham) and reintroduce a service in Cowgate albeit limited. They have a scholars route from Great Park to Benwell via Cowgate, so not miles from where they operate, although Otterburn would be a bit further don't Arriva serve West Woodburn already?
Be interesting to see if Phoenix keep it for the long term and bizarre it was rerouted through Fenham duplicating other services when they were awarded it.
For the 47, I think it should be an extension of another service, rather than standalone.
Great Park might get new services in the future as the area develops. Perhaps the X47 could be extended to serve there in the future and the Q3 could be extended beyond there slightly.