(29 Jul 2015, 6:48 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Sorry, I maybe should have explained a bit more. As we are aware from many previous posts, Ashington didn't look after the Lowlanders (both the Y-reg and 7453-6) as well as they maybe should have. Hence the many mentions of them on work like 34, 35 and X21/X22 in their final 18 months at Ashington. Since they arrived at Durham, they've been looked after by Durham's engineering team and are in a reasonable state (however I've not been on one for a while, nor have I been on 7455 recently - that was sluggish the one time I've had it at Durham). As for their future, I've heard different to what Scott mentioned but I'd rather not say in case that doesn't turn out as planned.
From what I've heard in the past, of all the depots to criticise other depots, Durham shouldn't be it. I've heard that the Lowlanders they had prior to Ashington sending theirs down were very unreliable, which must be due to how well they look after them surely?!
I can only say what I have heard and experienced, but I was on 7454 a couple of weeks before it went to Durham and it performed exceptionally on an X15. They also seem to be doing something to their older Sapphire E400's, most of the ones I've been on recently have performed very well.
I do, however, know that they weren't the buses they once were when they left Ashington, as you pointed out they frequently appeared on the X21/22, but at the same time, every time I got one I was still impressed.