(12 Jan 2023, 12:20 pm)OrangeArrow49 wrote As we are now just over a week away from the Arriva 685 being cancelled, and it will no longer be a shared operation, I'm looking into the history of the route.
Can anyone help please?
I believe the 685 was introduced by United some time in the 1930s, and was operated by 2 depots, Hexham and Carlisle?
Stagecoach began operating the 685 in 1986, upon privatisation? Arriva of course being formed in 1997 having been T. Cowie Ltd previously.
Arriva North East and Go North East swapped Hexham/Ashington depots in 2010, but Arriva Northumbria took on the 685 (Go North East later introducing the X84/X85)? Northumbria Motor Services operated the 684 presumably tendered, and OK Travel won this and was acquired by Go Ahead?
Please help!
United became Northumbria north of the river post de-reg.
Through mergers and acquisitions, it eventually became Arriva North East.
https://carlislebus.co.uk/history_of_bus...lisle.html
Here's a history of operators at the Western end of the route.
Ribble, Cumberland, Carlisle, Stagecoach Cumberland etc
https://www.flickr.com/photos/carlisle1457/52369079387/