(31 Aug 2014, 8:24 pm)Dan wrote 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...
They've already changed the timetable once to allow more running time from today. You can't do Middlesbrough-Durham-Middlesbrough in 2 hours which is what they previously tried to do. They now get 2 hours 15 minutes (5 of which is layover time in Durham) and work off 28Bs and work onto 17s (however that is just the general pattern, it is dictated by drivers hours etc). Unless you split the X1 onto it's own board and operated the X1s as the 5s do on Sunday (driver does 1 trip then has his break then does another trip) with the same buses out all day (just changing drivers at the end of the driver's X1 duty).
(31 Aug 2014, 8:24 pm)Dan wrote 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.
Extra journeys which run off other services (in the case of these extra journeys, Stockton's 6 journeys). The PM Peak X1 working from Framwellgate Moor runs between 2 Durham workings, meaning if Durham's management have sense, you'd have deckers on both working.
(31 Aug 2014, 8:24 pm)Dan wrote 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?
Quite often actually - normally 1 Durham board with a Pulsar and the sixth board has either another Pulsar or one of the ALX DAFs.
(31 Aug 2014, 8:27 pm)mb134 wrote Ah yeah, maybe the Redcar suggestion wasn't the bestWould Arriva make the modifications to Stockton depot if any of their routes were in desperate need of double deck operation?
I have no idea - I think it depends how much it costs, plus the timeframe until the area where the depot presently is could be up for redevelopment. I doubt they'd folk out thousands of pounds if the depot might only have 2 or 3 years left before it needs replacing.