(20 Oct 2014, 7:44 pm)Dan wrote Sunderland isn't really 'Arriva territory', and there is an established express route operating between Sunderland and Peterlee, yet Arriva are operating a competing service from next Monday...
With or without Quality Contracts, bus operators can design competing routes!
Arriva (United) has always had the Sunderland to Peterlee corridor. Arriva cancelled service 31/31A due to low patronage for through passengers and passengers can connect for onward travel to Sunderland via 24 or 23 route, Arriva with the X21 is to protect their investment and to take away passengers from other competitors. Same as Ok1 and X1. Arriva is not doing nothing wrong. GNE would do the same if arriva entered in GNE territory.