(22 Mar 2023, 8:55 am)Kuyoyo wrote Understand 3 E200s will move from Hartlepool to Stockton to operate the 1/2.im not suggesting move all the E200s from walkergate, if im right in thinking they have 11 (happy to be corrected if im wrong), the 317 has a PVR of 5 so assuming like you have suggested the total of 7 to include 2 spares, that leaves the 4 ive suggested to cascade, unless ive missed a route at walkergate that also uses E200s.
How many times - Walkergate need those E200s for the 317, it just happens that to give enough spare cover you need more than the PVR (7 for 5) and at the end of the day, most customers would rather any size bus turns up rather than no bus turning up because the only spare isn't suitable (or the wrong brand - see the many complains in the past with Trent Barton and then Transdev, mainly during the tenue of a certain seemingly disgraced MD of both companies.....). Likewise, Slatyford need the E200s for the 32/32A/35 - and a quick look on Bus Times confirms the active examples are all on 32/32A or 35 (although the one on 35s is the one on-loan from South Shields).
You only have to look at Carlisle's recent use of an E200 on the 685 and their attitude to that - their 37034-7 are Euro6 so if they end up with issues with their E400MMCs or their 3 Euro6 E300s (given they do now seem hesitant to send any of their Euro6 MAN E300s on long 685s anymore after 22879 broke down at Corbridge), they are the only vehicles that can be used without a £50 fine. End of the day, a bus is a bus and the majority of passengers would rather a bus turn up than no bus at all.
as for slatyford aswell im not suggesting removing vehicles from dedicated PVRs or that routes spares, but merely excess spares that end up getting used on other routes, ive seen E200s on a whole assortment of random routes the past year that they were totally unsuited to, i was merely suggesting maybe these excess ones get swapped for a bigger vehicle