(18 Jun 2015, 6:52 pm)S813 FVK wrote I don't see what is wrong with the Red Arrows B9TLs. They don't need to be cascaded else where for another few years yet.
The whole point of what I said above would the be for the following and not to replace the B9TL's on the X1 (would never replace a B9TL with a B5 or a Streetdeck!):
- To push the bus to it's limit fully laden at times between Hexham and Crawcrook and see if it can keep to time whilst dealing with high passengers and twisty bends and challenging sections of the route such as the approach to the Redheugh Bridge from the teams and the fast paced A695 between Blaydon and the Metrocentre. Chances are that Hexham would have to use their bus on the layby pretty frequently and if late, be chased by a 10A.
- To push the bus on the challenging and fast paced Pronto route, sometimes with high loads and heavy traffic.
- To push the bus on the challenging and fast paced X1 particularly on Old Durham Road and Washington Highway.