(13 Aug 2013, 4:29 pm)CatsFast101 wrote Peterlee aren't allowed to hold a branded spare? Could you elaborate on that? I'm sure when the WTX started the plan was for all 4 vehicles to remain at Peterlee. I assumed they later decided to keep the spare at Deptford to cover breakdowns at Sunderland.
That's what I've been told!
The plan was always for one to remain at Deptford. Has been the case since Day 1 of service, when one had to be replaced due to heating issues.
When a problem occurs on one of the "Wear Tees Xpress", it is dealt with by a Deptford engineer. The previous "Wear Tees Xpress" branded vehicle to have incurred a problem is the engineer's transportation to the place where the problem has occurred and the driver then takes that off the engineer while the engineer takes the broken one.
I thought that was the only factor that determined why Peterlee didn't have a branded spare, but I have recently been informed, after suggesting the above that one branded vehicle remains at each depot, that Peterlee is not allowed to have one.
EDIT: Assuming the vehicle cannot be fixed in time for the next breakdown or general problem, a Deptford-based "Northern" branded vehicle (Cadet or Renown) has to cover. If the problem is at Peterlee and there is a spare bus at the station, they're allowed to take an "East Durham" branded MPD until the Deptford engineer turns up. Meant to be swapped straight away when that happens, but is not always the case.