(26 Jul 2018, 6:54 pm)Andreos1 wrote Heard a story from a pretty accurate source, that Mercs will be arriving from at least one other Go-ahead division from next month.

I don't have any further details at this stage, but my guesses are that they will be replacing vehicles over the next period - rather than supplementing them.

(26 Jul 2018, 6:57 pm)pbjd wrote I've also heard that from a source down London, who believes they'll be going on the Whey Aye Five O.

(26 Jul 2018, 7:51 pm)Andreos1 wrote They're available from next month apparently.
May as well use them, rather than leave them standing as a depreciating asset.
Saying that, I have no idea whether they will get an internal refurb or if they even need one.

I'm sure all will become clear in due course.

Go South Coast MD Andrew Wickham confirmed on Twitter last week that Go North East would be receiving some of their Mercedes Citaros, and did quote their agreed availability as being August, but that they "could let some go before that if needed". Their withdrawal from the Go South Coast fleet coincides with the summer holidays, meaning the Unibus double-decks aren't required.

Sadly nothing too interesting - just more vehicles to assist with the newly-awarded Miscellaneous Works contracts from September. Go North East were awarded a number of single-deck boards and the life-expired Scania L94s which have clung on for a while now really need to be replaced rather than retained to operate these contracts. As such the condition of the Mercs doesn't really matter too much, and chances are they'll be left in Bluestar blue base livery (at least initially). Some have undergone refurbishment fairly recently at Bluestar, so also feature USB sockets. The entire Bluestar fleet is equipped with Wi-Fi (funded with the 'Better bus area' funding back in 2012), but it remains unclear whether this kit will be removed prior to their migration north.

We've had them listed on our fleet list since Andrew confirmed this on Twitter. They're the newer batch of 07-plates (still only Euro 4), rather than the ones which Go South Coast have previously loaned around the Group.