(08 Mar 2014, 1:59 pm)palatine3833 wrote Quite embarrassing but they should have a better idea on how things run since all of the main decisions are made in Sunderland. Luton is simply where customer services is based. How Doxford Park have so little knowledge on the North East services they run does actually amaze me.
This is a great example of a common misconception amongst enthusiasts like ourselves.
Sunderland is head office for Arriva Group (Bus, Train etc) and Arriva North East (who just happen to share the building - most other regions have head office functions based at depots). Sunderland is basically the finance and legal people for the overall bus and train entity, acting on behalf of all, not just the bus. This is what causes the confusion when people then go and phone Sunderland, expecting to speak to the UK Bus MD. He isn't based there.
Decisions from Arriva UK Bus for example are based fully in Luton. That's where the likes of David Martin and Bob Holland are based. Not Sunderland. Sunderland is just the culmination of all the separate businesses, that provides the link back to DB. It has nobody there who is tied solely to Bus or Train.