(31 Dec 2015, 2:58 pm)Michael wrote I don't think the X1 will be changing at all.
The ques on a morning from the galleries to Newcastle are long, one thing they should do in increase the frequency on that part of the route but don't think they'll do that and just stick with a 10 min frequency through out the full route
Dropping the frequency between Hetton and the galleries to accommodate the increase between the Galleries and Newcastle, won't work either... the full route should stay every 10 minutes.
If anything the X9/X10 will get new buses before the X1..... i think the B9's will be on the X1 for a couple of more years...
Bar the Pronto idea which has now been knocked on the head with the Streetdecks, the only other possible mainstream use that the B9s could see would be:
- Crusader (Only a very small number of journeys warrant deckers but would be handy for Metro replacements too).
- Stanley Network (Omnidekkas are fine and further changes may happen to the 6/X70/X71).
Could've mentioned the Coaster but will need to see how the 22 gets on. But for the meantime, I think the B9s are staying put for the next year but whether or not they get re-liveried, will tell whether or not theres going to be investment.
I think the TTX is a likely candidate but GNE might wait until the Scania E400MMC has been tried, thats if they do trial it.