(11 Nov 2022, 5:34 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Xlines wasn't failing until the flu came about though, passenger numbers actually increased for the first time in years (if MG is to be believed anyway)I think pre-covid, GNE had a fairly sensible strategy.
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XLines, "key" routes branded and corporate for anything else. Then during the recovery, things got a bit too "whacky" (Sunderland & District etc) rather than sticking to the basics.
XLines should've been made genreric though.
To give Arriva's Northumbria operation credit, things were quite stable during covid except the brief shortages at Jesmond depot and during the subsequent jobs market, managed to retain drivers until recently but now don't know how they'll fare after shutting Jesmond down.
I do think if GNE's driver numbers recover, I could see them exploiting the gap north of Newcastle if Arriva's numbers don't recover.
As for the rest of the ex Jesmond work bar the 306, maybe a situation like March 2022 & GNE in North Tyneside, where Arriva abandon the routes (51, 52, 53, 54, 55) and Nexus & NCC go out to tender with GCT & Stagecoach picking them up in some form or another.
That'll then be Arriva's driver numbers sorted.