busways quickly recruited over 60% of dtc's drivers by 7 november. amid concerns that dtc would not be able to fulfil its services due to driver shortage, and with concerns over united having a free hand in darlington if dtc collapsed, busways requested an advance on their registration date. this was refused. busways exploited a loophole in the regulations, and began operating free buses on their darlington network. busways called in several vehicles from its other subsidiaries, and repainted several of its surplus leyland atlanteans into stagecoach stripes, notable because none of busways atlanteans were ever painted in stagecoach livery.