(06 Mar 2014, 8:24 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Dan has hit the nail on the head - I've know about new vehicles for Stockton for the last 3 weeks, and had heard rumours from drivers in the weeks leading up to the date I got the confirmation, which incidentally was the day of the launch of 28001-17. I was told that day to keep quiet until closer to the time. It's this reason the Stockton Open Day is delayed until later this year - so to launch the E300s at the event.

As for external cascades, remember Stockton are still 4 Tridents outstanding. Plus, the City Sightseeing Fleet turns 24 this year (and are, by far, the oldest vehicles used in service in not just the North East but in the Stagecoach UK fleet outside of London). Apart from that, the last vehicles transferred into the North East from outside the region before 17025-9/32 were 16431-7 in 2003 so I'd be amazed if much did arrive from other regions when most still have Olympians and B10Ms to replace as well as non-DDA single deckers.