(06 Sep 2014, 10:40 am)Dan wrote I'd suggest the trial has been very successful.
For a light-weight vehicle, 5375 has exceeded my expectations to say the very least. I had a ride of it on August 30th from Stanley all the way back to Sunderland on the 8, and I was impressed. The vehicle did get very warm at the back, and I could feel that the vehicle was being pushed to its limits (especially on the small A19 stretch), but it's managed to keep to time which suggests that it can cope.
I really do think that Go North East will invest in a light-weight vehicle for the "Lime" - whether it's the Streetlite or the Versa, I do not know. I do think this will be a temporary stop-gap measure, which will tie the services over for a few years (perhaps the 2018/19 financial year) before heavy-weight vehicles are brought in. That way, Go North East can upgrade the "Lime" again (or whatever it may become) and upgrade another service with fairly new vehicles. I'd also suggest the same will happen with the Citylink.
If you want to have a go, it'll be on the 11:53 #8 from Sunderland.
Least its done good, i really thought it would struggle with it being a long route....
Not being a streetlite expert... could they not get a bigger engine for it.
I do hope we still a citaro on the routes.. but if we have to have versa or streetlite, thats fine with me.
If its gonna be like a stop gap order like the city... what do u think the city link will get in a couple of years?