IMHO all of Arriva Northumbria’s routes should be double decker operated except for the 1,2,57,57a,415,434,553 and the 777 where a saloon would be OK for those in terms of passenger capacity. Putting salons on any service into Newcastle is always asking for trouble, especially during the peaks.
Until we see the start of the BYDs (and hopefully other new vehicles in time) appearing perhaps the local management should be aiming to acquire a few more spare vehicles that could be available in the wider group to give the existing aging/knacked fleet a bit more slack. Of course, I realise that will probably result in another “robbing Peter to pay Paul” situation again.
RE: Arriva State of The Fleet