(06 Jul 2020, 7:13 pm)L469 YVK wrote I think the E400MMC would be fine considering Arriva have been using classics on the X15 / X18 as well as GoNE having an order for the X1 & X30. Don't know how the longer serving Hexham drivers would take to them though after the trouble Arriva had with Dennis Trident ALX400s 7430-35 when they operated the former guise of the 10 (602) and they then had to be replaced with Volvo B10BLEs from Arriva Scotland. They couldn't even handle the 308 afterwards during their stint at Blyth!

I do think that GoNE will stick with refurbishing the B9TLs on the Tyne Valley Tens though.

I personally have no issue with the E400MMCs (in fact, I quite like them), the well documented issue I do have is with low height vehicles running on routes that don't need them! But I really don't think replacing the B9s on the 10 with them would make much sense, and in all honesty a waste of money. 

Last time I used one they were a bit worse for wear inside (but really not that bad) but seemed spot on mechanically, even just reupholstering and giving them a deep clean would do wonders, I wouldn't even bother with the tables like they have on the C&Cs, there just isn't enough space for them.