(04 Aug 2023, 4:48 am)Dan wrote Don’t forget, the PVR increases on the 39 and X6 were PVR neutral (existing resource was just used more effectively to double the frequency of these routes).Based on every 15 minutes Silksworth to Sunderland, extending every 30 minutes round the Docks, it's achievable.
Go North East had - and to an extent still does have - a surplus of Solos.
The Little Pinks were intended to replace Venture branded Solos following loss of the contract for the 19, but those Venture branded Solos were reinstated at Consett and Little Pinks displaced back to Washington for the 82.
The R2 was mobilised with Tynedale Links Solo 721, which was never actually withdrawn at Hexham and was just held as an additional spare bus.
An additional spare Solo was allocated to Deptford (increase from 2 to 3) when the changes to the 39 were made last month - Voyager branded 723 was reinstated at Hexham for the 689/785, displacing 672 to Deptford, in turn replacing a spare single-deck (fewer single-deck spares needed and greater minibus spares needed with the change to vehicle allocation on the 39).
643, 684 and 709 are all available to be reinstated if required. Following engine repairs and MOT, 684 will be returning to service at Washington this week in order to displace 680 to Deptford for the 38.
I wonder if there is a way of boosting the frequency of the 33 to every 15 minutes, but remaining PVR neutral?
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Sunderland to Silksworth is timed for 16 minutes, meaning a round trip on that can be done in 32-35 minutes, depending on how generous stand time at Silksworth is. These shorts can interwork with the Sunderland terminating 39s, and it's tight but doable with one bus. The full length 33s will have a 50+ minute round trip time, possibly with a wait in the city centre, and need 2 buses.
That would be PVR neutral, which will keep the bean counters happy.
Current: 33 - 2 buses, 38 - 1 bus, 39/A/B - 7 buses
New: 33 short/39/A/B - 8 buses, 33 long - 2 buses