(23 May 2022, 6:35 pm)mb134 wrote I'd strongly argue the opposite. 

The X14, X15, X18, and X20 are all very punishing buses and 6 of the current vehicles (7511/2/4-7) for those routes are older than any Blyth bus. You then have 2014/15 E400s to make up the rest, all of which have been on express work since new. In comparison, the Blyth VDLs have been on considerably less punishing work for their entire lives. Not saying that Blyth don't need new stock, they very much do, but the VDLs have at least another couple of years in them while the 57/09-plate E400s are shot and the 64/15-plates aren't as reliable as they once were.

Fair enough, I was looking at ages more than anything. When I said they should definitely get a few to make up numbers on the X21/22 I envisaged 7511-2/4-7 being replaced for sure as like you say they're older. I can see the 64/14/15 plates maybe being a tad tired but if I remember correctly there are 19 MMC's coming, 8 could go on the X10/X11 even and then you could still send 11 to Ashington covering the X15/X18 and make the X21/2 almost fully MMC. Then you could withdraw 7411/84/86, stick 7514-17 on the 35 with 7510, 7511/12 to Jesmond to replace 7412/91, 7524-33 for the X14/X20 and spares and then send 7522 and 7553-56 to Durham.