(05 Jul 2020, 2:54 pm)Storx wrote Yeah I know, but even once you've upgraded the 61 and X6/7 with the extra Streetlites there's still loads of them spare, I wouldn't surprise if some went to Riverside but then after that there should be enough spare for other routes where there's no realistically shouting out.
The Red Arrow B9TL's to Crusader will see off the Citaro's I would imagine though. Wouldn't be surprised if the whole Riverside Citaro fleet is gone by the end of year.
7x - 93/94 (Imagine there's a spare there for them)
17x - X1
10x - 53/54/X66
I believe the 93/94 is ran by Versa's so they could easily be the buses being refurbished and put on the 57 with their sisters on the 56.
There's the Mercedes gone if you choose the Streetlites for the 6 (maybe something better ie some Deckers somewhere).
That still leaves the 12 Streetlites to go somewhere - possibly more if you choose something else for the 6.
Only 7 are needed for the X6, X7 and 61 though and that's before any PVR decreases are accounted for in Sunderland so it could be less. The X84/X85 is the one standing out as the only other route that needs newer buses for the LEZ and has nothing accounted for it.
Just saying.
I'm fairly sure it's been mentioned by either Dan or MG that the plan is to get rid of the Citaros as soon as feasibly possible due to the high running costs.
As much as I like them (apart from the god awful seats), they don't really make sense on many routes, and if they ever got round to fixing the door on the Streetlites (like they've been saying they're going to do for years) they wouldn't be that bad of a replacement.