(12 Aug 2023, 11:51 am)peter wrote Had a bit of a further thought about this
Withdrawal of 51/52/53/54 could see:
1574-78/81-89 transfer to Ashington
1433/39/61-63/75/97/1537-42 to Darlington (1479 to Blyth and 1543 to Darlington also) and 2579 withdrawn
4801-14 displaced to Runcorn
My assumption is the NE may not get anything in return for these with them instead used to displace 58-plate Pulsars in the NW
1595 returned to Durham with 1603/4/6/14 temporarily to Durham displacing 1597-1601 to repaint
1595 then displaces 2857 which is withdrawn
1603/4/6/14 then back to Darlington displacing 1590-4 onto town services
2710-14 to Ashington for the 57/57A
2837/52/53/54/56/59 withdrawn
2841/58 withdrawn due to upcoming service 12 withdrawal
I'm not sure what the capacity required for the 434 is but could 2601-2603 be used?
If not then perhaps two solo's will live on a little longer somewhere till the next PVR decrease.
Aye possibly like,
I haven't 100% checked it but if I'm right the 58 Plates are going to be gone with the franchising. I know the 362 and 575 are definitely on the list. I'm not sure they'll want to send their newer buses onto them and will just let them go naturally. Be better to send them up here where they have a few years left.
Btw I was thinking about that with Enviro 200 MMC's at Ashington but I don't think full size buses can run most of the Darlington services at all so would be a problem.
Redcar badly needs something newer lately and it's arguably the best way to get something better there. It'll also be interesting to see what happens with Kent which is a dying beast lately. I know there's Enviro 200 MMC's (full length) going spare soon, whether they keep them down there or move them out completely.