(30 Jan 2016, 11:54 am)Michael wrote They are going to repainted so why not paint them black to allow the brand to have all 54 reg plates.. would make sense for the older ones currently on the Fast Cats to go in the spare role and not the newer ones.
It would also make the brand have all euro 5 buses.
My thoughts on the condition of the purple Solars have been well documented for the last few years - there was another breakdown on the 20 yesterday coincidently.
However, I mentioned not too long ago that recently I have ended up on the 49xx batch more or less every time I have ridden the 20.
These seem (to me anyway) to be in better nick internally, than the 52xx branded vehicles.
Mechanically, I have no idea which of the batches are better.
I have ridden the X35 quite regularly (not as often as the 20's) and in my opinion, they're in a similar condition internally to their purple cousins.
If a handful of the 52xx purple Solars were repainted black, I am not sure they would last too long on the X35/X36.
It certainly wouldn't be much of an upgrade for passengers.
Saying all of that, whilst it could be said the X35 needs newer vehicles - a cascade from elsewhere may be the more cost effective option.
Mercs?