(31 Aug 2022, 9:50 pm)R852 PRG wrote The initial rota with the 71 will consist of a mixture of 34s and the Little Pinks network in Washington. All changeovers for stuff that runs through Chester takes place there, with the exception of the 25 where changeovers are at Birtley Northside. The 8s mostly changeover at the Galleries, although there are some duties that do so at Chester.They are waisting so much money on changeovers.
They might as well extend the 71 to every 2 hours Washington & a new pinks link every 20 mins between Washington & Chester-Le-Street, the 83A route which would take around 30 mins.
Because they could do 2 71's easily if the CLS to Washington was about 30 mins each way. Then on the 34 they could do 4 34's then 83A.
While it may be longer than the current run dead time from the Depot it would keep changeover at CLS on 34/83A. It would imo just try to run something instead of wasting fuel.