(11 Aug 2014, 10:11 pm)Tom wrote Overall, I reckon it would be a fantastic idea to merge the Chester-le-Street and Stanley depots together. However, if this was to work, I think the ‘’Red Kite’’ and X70/X71 service would need to be transferred to Riverside. If they did merge, the best option would be to have an office at Stanley. This would allow for easy driver changeovers at Stanley for the Diamond, X30/X31 and Lime services. I also think it would be more practical for 130/131 to be operated out of the Chester-le-Street depot too. However, I’m not sure what would happen with Washington. Whether it would be possible to have some routes operated out of both Deptford and the Super Depot I don’t know. What could work though, is that the travel shop at Washington could be converted into an office and travel shop like the one at North Shields, so the W5/W6, 4 and X1 driver changeovers could take place easily. The super depot could operate the M2/M3 and 88/88A with changeovers taking place at Birtley and for the 88/88A at Jarrow with a van.
Washington and Chester merging seems a better idea to me as there a few service round Stanley and the Consett depot ideally can be kept near a main depot. Keep Stanley separate and if times come to replace the depots, Consett & Stanley could merge with the low cost unit.