(29 Jul 2015, 7:42 pm)mb134 wrote 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.
The condition that the Lowlanders were sent in was absolutely disgusting. The main problem with the Lowlanders is that the chassis' are rotting away. The reason people criticise Ashington's maintenance is mainly because two of the 57-plates have had to have work done to the rear interior as the floor collapsed (a sign the bus definitely hasn't been looked after IMO)