(10 May 2023, 10:41 pm)Thomas12 wrote From what I understand there is a huge surplus of drivers at Percy Main as well - could be an interesting expansion opportunity.
Yeah totally agreed. The 51 and 53 would arguably be the best bet for them as it would give them a monopoly of some areas and compliment others.
Whenever I've seen buses through Shiremoor there's always people waiting to get on and they're not dead and they'd pretty much take it over and Killingworth to Cramlington isn't exactly a no go corridor (it used to be there's with the 42 anyway).
Similar with the 51 would top up their 41A on Wiltshire Drive and they'd have a near Monopoly of Cobalt / Shiremoor aswell - the 54 is a basketcase so can't see that making much impact. I believe the 51 is only one bus aswell since the rest of it subsidised so no real risk.
Not sure they'd want to take the 52 though it's a bit operationally out on a limb.