(Yesterday, 6:28 pm)Superman wrote Blyth are not the poor child in any sense of the imagination. They are getting more new vehicles than both Durham & Stockton are, as an example.

The vehicle intake/withdrawal plan at both Ashington and Blyth removes around a dozen single deck vehicles overall, so the number of double deckers will increase as a percentage. Yes, that might not be to the satisfaction of some, but it is what it is.

A business will always put it's new investment where it will get the biggest return. It's basics and an unfortunate reality for those who may not agree. This will mean that some locations simply will not get the investment they think they are due, likely cascades most of the time.

A dozen removed seems slightly too low given the actual board allocations. It's not really about what's to the 'satisfaction of some', more based on what Arriva themselves have boards allocated as. 

Ashington, on paper, should need 12 for the 1/2/57 - and I believe there is 1x 35 single decker board. 13 overall - they currently have 26. 

Blyth have, I believe, 4 boards allocated as single deckers (the 553 and 3x X9 boards). They currently have 13 saloons. 

Between the depots that's 39 saloons for a PVR of 17. Even if you say there's an approximate spare percentage of 14%, that's only an additional 2-3, taking you to 19-20. So you'd think there should nearer to 19 saloons withdrawn, not 12.