(6 hours ago)L469 YVK wrote I must admit, l loved your idea with the 45/46/47 which would also replace the V5 & X71 in hindsight too - with quite a smart idea to make the 46 more viable too.
As I've said before. Derwentside is a very similar demographic to Blyth, Bedlington and Ashington. Arriva have been resillient not only during covid but even with the ABTRL - give or take a few potential future tweaks. If they still had the old X/EX and 40's nonsense that eventually got morphed into simplier and easier routes such as the X10/X11 - would be a different story IMO.
All the 40's from Stanley & Consett had the MetroCentre going for them to make money.
https://www.northeastbuses.co.uk/attachm...nail=11055
This, especially the 46! ️️
I also mentioned it a good few posts back, but do all the Stanley / Consett to Newcastle boards need deckers? Volvo B8RLEs thrown in would be perfect for some trips. Worst case if routes grow and they're not suited capacity wise, put them on the 8/78.
As someone who uses a lot of the services. The X46 being brought back is needed quite badly as the 47 is too slow. The X70 isnt busy enough to even be hourly its mostly dead during the day. However at peak times I still think deckers are atill required. Morning 45 carries full and standing deckers. Peak X70 X71 also carry large loads meaning a decker is still required imo.
I think the death of the local ventures should be looked into as it was well utilises by the old people. Especially the V3 V4