(31 Aug 2014, 7:59 pm)VolvoMarkII wrote I don't see Arriva reducing the X2 at any point in the future either. If it was going to happen, it would have already happened by now. I think that whilst it may not carry as many as the 21 or X21, it still provides a link between the Durham & Northumbria regions, that would otherwise be severed. I think on that basis, even if it made nothing, Arriva would keep it, to ensure value for money in their full north east tickets. Withdrawing it would reduce their value for money by 50% overnight.

Of course the suggestion was based on the basis that the operations would move to Durham... As this in itself is unlikely, the suggestion is also unlikely. I haven't done any research, but as the operation is split between two depots, I'd imagine it'd be harder to continue a half hourly frequency on service X1 whilst making changes that see service X2 downgraded to an hourly frequency.

I'd argue that the value for money for the ticket would still be there as the service still exists. There'd be less convenience to customers, but that goes without saying. Empty services (double deckers, at that) has to be ringing alarm bells to suggest to management that they need to review how things...

(31 Aug 2014, 8:03 pm)aureolin wrote But there's nothing stopping the Sunday and bank holiday workings remaining in Stockton I guess?

I don't think it'd be appropriate for Sundays to go without a "MAX" specification bus. Changing the running boards around and making timetable alterations shouldn't be too difficult, though...

(31 Aug 2014, 8:03 pm)aureolin wrote If these extra journeys do not resolve a problem that is known about though, what next? Keep single decker operation in tact because it means moving the service from Stockton otherwise? Stunting growth rarely works.

Agreed. There's only so many times you can play around with a timetable, adding extra journeys here and there at peaks, before you realise that there was only ever one appropriate option.

(31 Aug 2014, 8:14 pm)VolvoMarkII wrote Out of the 9 boards now, only 4 are specifically allocated double decks on paper, which suggests that Durham have two single decker workings.

Logically thinking, I would assume that this is purposeful, by double decks being on the journeys that are more heavily used.

I suspect that if push came to shove, Arriva would either change the remaining two Durham based single deckers to doubles and rework the boards and/or pay for work at Stockton depot to allow double deckers in (which would presukably be a cheaper one off cost, instead of an ongoing recurring cost of having everything based at Durham and subsequent dead running).

In reality, how often does this happen? I certainly haven't seen a single decker from Durham allocated for quite some time... When Geminis are unavailable, other double deckers tend to substitute.

Is this another case of those on depot level taking matters into their own hands and ignoring management's decision-making?