Hmmm Very Interesting.

I think with the Citylink 58 Artics it's mainly the 54reg ones that are the problem, according to my dad who I spoke to at teatime he told me there was 2 of them broke down just of the Tyne Bridge. I think if GNE are considering buying new buses for this service then the standout logical choice capacity wise would be for them to buy Double Deckers in the form of Wright Geminis to replace the Artics. Wonder if there thinking the same for the X66.

As for Optare although I like the Versa I don't think they are a suitable choice for services like the 43/44 which climb up steep banks in the Durham/Stanley area, Personally I would keep the Citaros on that route as they have the power to climb that sort of area.

As for the Streetlite if it is heading for Stanley I would say it would be tested on the 43/44 to compare against the Versa. Otherwise myself personally would use it on the 8/78.