(23 Dec 2022, 11:16 pm)Tiger5105 wrote I know GNE can't help delays but take the X45 . Once an hour on an evening and a hard to stick to timetable even with no hold ups means the slightest hold up in traffic around the metrocentre or Newcastle on and evening and the driver loses any chance of making time up for the whole evening.  Even the supposed 6 min layover at Eldon Square isn't in reality if a bus can't stick to a timetable even with very little holdups!

It's not just the running times, it's if anything earlier in the evening happens plus suitable drivers / rotas to regulate things.

If a relief is due to happen before going into evening running times, then delays can be erradicated. But if not, then that's where things can get messy.

Take Arriva's 308 for example which is also a 1hr round trip like the X45. If the 20:14 ex Blyth (board finishes back at Blyth for 00:09) can get a replacement driver AND vehicle, then it can be regulated if the earlier journeys on the board are running late. But if no replacement vehicle readily available, then the relief driver would just have to pick up the late running vehicle.

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On another note.......if the 12 is going to remain every 30 minutes (PVR 3), would it not make sense for.....

- 12 moves to Consett and interworks with the 6 again

- Daytime X30/X31 operations move to Riverside with changeovers in Dunston

Means all 20x E400MMC could then be moved to Riverside for X10/X21/X30/X31. Total PVR would be 16x with 2x 69/20/70 plate spares available and also 6336-37. X21 long layover also re-introduced.

Then for Consett with some interworking pattern changes......

- 47-X71-X71-X45 - PVR 5x
- 47-X72-X72-X45 - PVR 5x
- X45-47 - PVR 5x

Consett Decker Fleet (Newcastle routes):
- 6356-63 - 47/X45/X71/X72
- 6376-77 - 47/X45/X71/X72
- 6308-12 - 47/X45/X71/X72
- 6313-14 - Spare*
- 6334-35 - Spare*

* Spares if not needed on any of the Newcastle routes could then be used on the X5/X15.