(12 Sep 2023, 7:28 pm)L469 YVK wrote And people said the same about the 50's and look what happened. If Arriva seriously wanted to keep them and found them viable to operate out of Northumberland, they would've went to arms length to keep them.

Although it makes money for Arriva, it's not the goldmine it once was. If Arriva could potentially be short on drivers....plus the logistics of running the 306 on top, those two factors alone are potentially enough.

Although it wouldn't be easy as Arriva would need a suitable interworking / layover pattern for the 308.....and likewise Stagecoach would need a suitable interworking / layover pattern for the 306 as I doubt GNE would want to be out of pocket having to re-jigg and add extra resource to the 307 & 309.

I don't really get your point? You said if they really wanted to keep the 50s they would have, but they have worked out how to keep the 306 running yet are convinced they see it as something they would get rid of? The 50s probably just about (in the case of the 52/53 anyway, maybe less so with the 51/54) kept themselves afloat, whereas the 306 is a route on a 20 minute frequency down a lucrative corridor - it's a very different situation. 

You mention "the logistics of running the 306" - what logistics are there to it? They can have Blyth based breaks on the usual 5 hour cycle, which is pretty much perfect in terms of efficient driving schedules. In the evening there is a bit more to it, but that would be the same for any operator given the current timings and route.