(23 Jun 2015, 6:29 am)mb134 wrote The thing that is annoying is that someone decided it could cope with a peak time run, we arrived in Newcastle 12 minutes late, with 5 minutes more than usual timetabled in to do the Regent Centre to Haymarket stretch. I know for a fact that certain boards don't hit Newcastle at peak times at all, put 7502 on one of these, and let the buses with some power handle the busier runs into Newcastle. 

As a comparison, 7524 was my ride home, after traffic lights made us 3 minutes late leaving Haymarket, we were on time by Regent Centre. We arrived in Bedlington a minute or two late, after stopping at Northumberlandia, and then the stop opposite Nelson Industrial Estate (and not being able to pull out because of a van in the bus stop). There was a massive noticeable difference between it and 7502, acceleration was far quicker and it didn't seem like it wanted to die every time it went over 30.

I have to disagree a bit with this. Had 7501 a few weeks and coped really well was a bit worn but considering its been Redcar and Blyth its still good, not completely flat
like someone else said, do you know why it was alright? all wifi and plugs were turned off.
The thing is I don't think the X93 or Blyth's caring maintenance has got nothing to do with the limited amount of power.

All buses converted to Sapphire have extra weight compared to the other 57 reg ones, this was because they added NSAs,Plugs,Wifi etc but no uprating the engines.
The amount of wires included with them all adds extra weight of course WIFI is weightless but the wires are not.
also the High back seats add extra weight all that with the econmospeed just makes the bus worse. I think some of them had econmospeed disabled?

It was not Redcar or Blyth that killed them it was Sapphire that killed them. Also in a few years time I bet we will be talking of how limp the 14 reg ones are.