(17 Dec 2015, 11:54 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Although the X12 is no real threat at the moment, I can understand GNE keeping the order quiet for this particular reason:
If Arriva were to get a sniff that the Pronto was to get an upgrade, they could've ended up replacing the 57 plate Sapphires at Ashington resulting in them 9 (7501-7509) being moved to Belmont / Stockton (they would just have to maintain the deckers elsewhere in Stockton's case unless things have changed) meaning a Sapphire X12 service.
Don't know how Arriva think but that is one of the ways which they could've reacted had the order been leaked too soon.
Highly doubt that Arriva would have converted the X12 to Sapphire not long after making the service a MAX route and with older buses as well. Those 57 reg Enviro 400's probably aren't going to be coming off the X21/X22 anytime soon!