(11 Aug 2016, 12:10 am)G-CPTN wrote I am naturally very protective of the TEN, and believe that the B9TLs are ideal for the westerly section of the route - there are gradients (such as Tinklers Bank at Corbridge) which the B9s cope with admirably - I'm not sure that a 5 litre engine would be adequate.Don't want to start predictions on here but pretty sure that the TEN won't get a replacement even if the need for cascaded B9TLs is imminent with currently there only being 1 set of routes in mind given the recent service changes as well as further potential cascades (including extra modern deckers at Chester Le Street to assist with the Angel).
It is mildly 'disappointing' when non-liveried vehicles (by which I mean red B7TLs) have to be used (the TEN livery is so good IMO), though any bus is preferable to no bus. What is strange is that 3942 used to be in TEN livery before it was repainted red.
Hexham do a superb job of using whatever spares they have to keep the service(s) 'on schedule' - I spotted a TEN B9TL running the X84 heading east through Corbridge on Tuesday @ 17.30ish (a few minutes late - but running nevertheless) and I've seen B9TLs on the occasional X84/X85 during 'daytime'.
In return we get the occasional single decker running the TEN (it comes as a surprise when they turn into central Corbridge instead of continuing along Main Street and Newcastle Road).
What I'm trying to say is don't mess with the current allocation (except where necessary to fill gaps) as the current vehicles seem to be ideally suited to the routes.
I dread to think what will happen when the B9TLs wear out - though maybe that will be a long time yet?
Your point about the westerly section of the route is pretty much spot on although Streetdecks would cope OK, they seem fine on the Castles Express.
Narrowing it down, if Streetdecks were to be used on the TEN, some fuel savings may be gained on sections between Crawcrook and Newcastle but with the Cobalt Clippers, the fuel savings could be huge given the stop start / urban nature of both routes, particularly service 310. As well as that, if all 14x B9TLs were to be cascaded straight from Riverside of the TEN to the depot in question for the route in mind, no spare vehicles would exist as such meaning that OmniDekkas would have to be used as spares; but if the Cobalt Clipper B9TLs were to be cascaded, 1x spare vehicle for the route in mind would be available as well as giving 2x B9TLs to Riverside keeping the total amount of B9TLs at 16 (15 if 6084 is needed elsewhere).