(24 Aug 2022, 6:18 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote 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.
I guess you could use a bus that runs onto something at Newcastle and off something to work the return journey, however you're looking at almost an hour journey dead running from Otterburn to Blyth. Arriva are hardly likely to take on the contract, because they operate full time services, Phoenix on the other hand operate Northumberland and Nexus contracts either running locally or just a few journeys. They have smaller buses which use less fuel and thus cost less, so Arriva would never win the tender anyway.
Just because it's mainly Arriva running from Haymarket isn't a very good reason tbh, should Arriva operate Go North East's 309/310/311 because they serve Haymarket and Peter Hogg's 131? The 47 is a hospital contract, it doesn't need any more services to compliment it. A scholars contract is not a regular service that's part of the network though. No Arriva don't serve West Woodburn or anywhere particularly close to the area. So all in all the 808 doesn't fit in with any standard Arriva routes and pigs will fly before they operate it.