(07 Aug 2015, 6:57 pm)JakeSavage wrote Yeah, logic dictates there's got to be some truth in this, although many operators may choose to base a part of their maintenance/ inspection periods on a mileage element, rather than just a straightforward 'standard' max 21 days.

Using this sort of observation, and whilst not as pronounced, stagecoach's branded 100 and x34 buses must have a similar situation, given their high mph sections? Will be interesting to see whether the cascaded Tayside e400 ultimately head to the x34 to displace its current stock, or if they are utilised elsewhere in the fleet.

I can only imagine the more or less 365 day a year operation of the 100 will have some affect on the vehicles. Obviously the X34 only runs 6 days a week, so by virtue the wear and tear should be less - providing the deckers aren't used every Sunday on another service.

The maintenance/inspection periods may be on a mileage element, but the 'in and out/continuous' operation of some routes, will mean interior cleaning and tidying can't happen.  

Looking at another element, do passenger demographics have an impact on the interior condition?

(07 Aug 2015, 7:10 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Most buses in, say, Gateshead, are going to end up with a hilly run, regardless, though.

And you can equally argue that those routes with long, fast inter-urban stretches, like the prince bishops, pronto and even angel already have a mix of different paces and challenges on their journey - they spend as much time in nose to tail town or city traffic as they do stretching their legs. I should imagine that if you compared buses of similar mileage, rather than age, those doing long distance routes would probably be in better condition than those doing mostly stop start routes at fairly low speeds.

5201 and 5213 are both of a similar age and until 5201 was shifted into a spare covering a range of routes, I imagine both had a similar mileage - based on the routes (56 and 20) they were allocated to for the majority of the last 9 years. 
It would be interesting to know how many clicks they have had though.

5201 will have had the steadier, slower and flatter (excluding Old Durham Road) runs out on the 56 versus 5213 on the 20 and is in much better nick.

Thinking about the ex-London deckers, reliability and performance may be up for debate (and often is), but rattles and squeaks less so.

I take your point about the hilly nature of Gateshead. Maybe the old Gateshead Durham Road 2x locals were a nice release to the hills of Deckham, Bensham and Lobley Hill?