(10 Aug 2013, 9:30 pm)Daniel wrote(10 Aug 2013, 9:27 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote(10 Aug 2013, 9:19 pm)Daniel wrote(10 Aug 2013, 9:14 pm)Adam Malarkey wrote I actually was Today going from Newcastle to Heworth, and I did have the comfort of a B9 with Wifi.
As for 3833 that was the only bus other than MPD 564 available at the time when 3964 broke down, and both were only parked around the corner on the layover, not sure on what was in the Depot other than the other 2 B9's which are VOR. Most likely a Citaro Artic would of been the replacement otherwise. Although Passengers may complain about the bus not being low floor, The problem was solved immediately compared to in the past when they've had to wait for the Next one to arrive.
You weren't a customer from Newcastle to Middlesbrough though, like some passengers are. You hardly benefit from a 15 minute charge of your camera/phone on the X10. Over an hour, you can benefit greatly from it.
I've frequently used the service from A to B, and often have relied on a B9 turning up so that I could charge my phone which had died earlier in the day to get in touch with someone. I only do that if I know the allocations which admittedly normal passengers wouldn't, but I should be able to be fairly confident in knowing that I'll have the advertised benefits for using the service - especially when the service can be so costly when you're >18 and travelling the full length of the service on multiple occasions.
The vehicle has to be tachoed too, which is a big factor of determining a suitable replacement for a defective B9.
I have done from Heworth to M'Boro a few times so I the same have benefited in the past. Have no reason to go all the way to Newcastle to catch it when I can go to Heworth on the M1 From Washington.
Okay, so say you had 4949 today which was incredibly cramped rather than the usual B9 and 3833/3863/3864 was the alternative... Would you be particularly happy if you were using the service thinking you'd receive WiFi and plug sockets? No you wouldn't!
No I wouldn't to be honest, although I don't use my phone that often I wouldn't of minded having a trip on 3833 on the X10 though. I think of other services which have this same problem i.e. X30/X31/X70/X71, They always seem to have an Olympian on them, I know they don't have Wifi but even so, passengers must be just as sick as those on the X9/X10.