(26 May 2023, 4:00 am)Dan wrote Technically, just 4 in the weekday peak (but off-peak and Saturdays, 6).

Go North East has recently reinstated the full frequency around schools. One bus drops out to do the 28S at school times, another drops out to do the 4.

It’s a smarter, more cost-effective, way of introducing the full frequency at the lowest possible cost - though clearly this does mean a lower frequency is provided during the weekday morning peak (where schools requirement clashes with high demand on the local network).

I wonder if this could be done anywhere else on the network?

I can certainly see more of this happening across the board, Arriva are going further down this route again with the 23 losing trips to enable the buses to work the East Durham College contracts in the upcoming timetable changes, service 8A between Ferryhill and Spennymoor being another which will supposedly help to keep this service viable. Arriva have done this in the past in Durham when the likes of the 43 and 56 had dropouts for Durham Johnston School contracts.