(27 Jun 2015, 7:40 am)Jimmi wrote It will have been 7514-7521 which were new to Bishop Auckland and transferred to Darlington when Bishop Auckland depot closed.
When 7514-7521 where at Darlington depot there was the PVR of 6 on the 1/1B and one on the 5 and then there would always be one in Darlington depot - don't know why exactly.
Does seem to be issue with the new E400's on the 7. Don't what is up with them but are often being taken off the 7 during the day.
Quite right Jimmi. I recall the day i was despatched to Jesmond to collect 7521, which would be my first proper drive of one, and I'd made up my mind about it by the time I got to the Tyne Bridge. I found them very slow pulling away (which is my biggest gripe with a service bus!), the visibility from the cab I found was riddled with blind spots and the general reliability was poor.
As far as looking for something for the X9/X10 in the future, I suspect you are going to be looking at an "Oxford Tube" type vehicle, which to be honest won't be a bad thing and in terms of attracting people from the car and the train won't be a bad thing. I certainly think the route justifies such a vehicle.