(12 Sep 2024, 9:35 pm)L469 YVK wrote Kinda agree, but if anything (although out of warranty), Volvo have support in the North East.

And I doubt they'd struggle on the 43/44/45 and 306/308 either. Should also be 'ok' on the Blyth 'X' routes too.

GNE still use 6043-48 on the winding, twisting and uphill 47. They haven't exactly had easy lives either although maybe not extreme as 7401-06.

See I think Arriva Northumbria is just the complete wrong place. 

If, and big if, they got some replacement asap for the X93 I'd send them to Durham to see off the B7's there until the electrics come. If Durham then can turn them into something that actually works, once the electrics use them to displace the 09 E400's out the fleet otherwise just write them off as done and get shot of them if they continue being a nuisance. 

The B7's are life expired as an understatement.

The 64 is probably the easiest route in the North East, if they can't do that then they're not fit for purpose anywhere.

For Arriva Northumbria when the new electrics turn up personally I'd do:

43/44/45/47: Electrics
553: 1500
X7/X8/X9: 1502 - 6, 7522/24-28/53/54/56
X10/X11: 7616/17/20-25
306/308: 7613-15/28-37
Spares/Schools: 1501/Remaining DB300's

35/X14/X15/X18/X20/X21: All but 2 E400 MMC's
X16/777: 1479/1512/1513
X22: 7529-7533
1/2: Streetlites
434/57/57A: Solos (Need replacing)
Spares/Schools: 2x E400 MMC, 1537 - 1543, 7557/8/60/62

Out: 1462/63/80/93/95/96/97, 7501-7/9

There's no need for any B9's up here. If you upgrade the X21/22/35 back up then fill them with Pulsars (not ideal but there's all there is).