The palaver around velo Midlands, currently in the news, has had me thinking about this. The road closures are extensive, with Durham itself, pretty much cut in two on the morning of the event but some roads, towards the end of the route, closed for most of the day.

I think it's going to be a nightmare for buses that normally travel through Bowburn and much of the area towards Fishburn, Sedgefield etc.

https://www.velonorth.com/

Suspension woes for ADL

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicatio...4mQloxFhCM

Stagecoach North East: Rare & Odd Workings - May 2019

Stagecoach North East: Latest News & Discussion - May 2019

Arriva North East: Rare & Odd Workings - May 2019

Arriva North East: Latest News & Discussion - May 2019

The only reason I can see GNE ordering another vehicle would be to cover the Castles Express PVR increase. There would be 2x options as a result for the TVT (E400MMC more likely for Red Arrows)

Option 1:
- 16x Volvo B5TL to Riverside / Hexham for TVT. This would also include 3x additional spares on top to cover the TVT + TTX.

- 6084 transferred to Crook to make up additional PVR on Castles Express.

Option 2:
- 16x StreetDecks to Riverside / Hexham for TVT. This would also include 2x additional spares on top to cover TVT. 6084 remains at Riverside as TTX spare.

- 1x StreetDeck to Chester Le Street / Crook to make up additional PVR on Castles Express.

Test

I may have been hallucinating, but I'm pretty sure I saw 17702 on the Chillingham Road earlier!

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nor...o-16109840

New sightseeing service launched in Newcastle.