(04 Dec 2015, 6:42 am)buss14 wrote i dont think arriva will replace buses at a young age because they will probably think economically if they just need to fix small issues then that can be done in like 1 hour or so then they will stay. i think it is most likely that the buses will get a more powerful engine with a better battery power because that what happened to mcgills buses.
That would be acceptable for a MAX service but for a premium 'Sapphire' service, then surely the vehicles used should be up to a high standard. Although the 57 plates will only be 8 year old come next year, all or some have been through the following:
- Intense work at Blyth particularly down to the fact that the PVR of the 308 increased after they were purchased (3 or 4 used to be GNE Lolyne / Palatine Boards).
- Used on the 501/505/518 and the X15/X18.
- Based down at the Redcar outstation and used on the tough X93.
The only problem would be where to send these vehicles. 2x of the best obviously could stay at Ashington as spares but the following could happen for the rest:
- Sent nationally to act as spares for other double deck Sapphire routes for other Arriva divisions.
- Power consoles removed, sockets covered or removed, seat headrests retrimmed and turned into MAX with the NSA screens and systems transferred into the replacement vehicles.
I think that one of the following will happen to replace them:
- 8x new E400s (either MMC or Classic most likely the former) with the above happening to the 57 plates.
- 7x new E400 MMCs for Durham / Belmont with 7534-40 going to Ashington and working the X21/X22 alongside 7522-28 and 7518. Same principle applies for the 57 plates.
- If the 7 continues to see growth, 15x new E400 MMCs for Ashington. Same principle applies for the 57 plates but not enough NSA systems though. 7523-28 then transfer to Darlington / Belmont alongside 7518 and 7522 acting as spares seeing the 7 become fully double deck. The Pulsars used on the 7 then either stay in the North East or go national to assist existing Sapphire single deck routes or help launch a new Sapphire route.
- If the X10/X11 continue to see growth, 20x new E400MMCs for Ashington (15) and Durham / Belmont (5). 7534-37 and 7540 alongside 7522-28 transfer to Blyth converting the X10/X11 to Sapphire with the MAX DB300s going where needed either within the North East or nationally. For the 57 plates, 3x stay at Ashington as spares and 3x go to Blyth as spares with the 3x worst ones out of the 9 going into reserve. 7518 then transfers to Belmont / Darlington as a spare.
A major selling point of the last predicition is that if 2x nearby depots are both operating a Sapphire service, dedicated driving units could be formed for better customer service (only doing the X21/X22 [35 during evenings and Sundays] or X10/X11 unless an absolute emergency) and if lets say a driver phoned in sick at Blyth or Ashington, then drivers could be sent from one depot to another if needed.