26 Aug 2017, 8:10 am
#342
(25 Aug 2017, 11:52 pm)RBZ 5459 Services by such operators are not normal stage-carriage services or if they are, are more limited stop than the likes of X9/X10. Limited stop ones in particular will use a bus station, with a DDA coach only being able to use it's electric wheelchair lift at a select few bus stops safely, like bus stations. A low entrance vehicle like the new B8RLE Leopard would be the closest choice to a 'coach' with the current setup of the Tyne Tees Xpress services, or some other Interdecker like the Elite i, but that's quite an overkill and sizeable investment.
The B8RLE Leopard would be great, but it simply doesn't have sufficient capacity for the X9/X10 (it only has 53 seats). That's before you take into consideration any growth which stems from the new vehicles entering service and the re-routing of the X10 through Dalton Park.
One of the things being promoted is the fact that the new B5TLs have a marginally higher capacity than the current allocation - the extra few seats on the Volvo B5TLs are desirable at peak times.
Providing Go North East doesn't leave it 'too late' before investing again, I don't think there's an issue with renewing the fleet of the X9/X10 every few years. That said, I don't think they'll be able to give it another 5 years with this vehicle allocation...
