(03 Jan 2016, 12:09 pm)Kuyoyo wrote Actually, the last new vehicles for Newcastle were 12061-86 - which arrived in Summer 2011. Yes, the last batch of vehicles new to Newcastle that were fully funded by Stagecoach were the 60-reg E400s.
However, you have to remember that from 2003 to 2011, Newcastle more-or-less received new vehicles every year. Compare that to Stockton, who until this past 2 years effectively had a 5 year gap between new vehicles. Hartlepool depot have only had 4 batches of new buses during Stagecoach ownership (10 B10Ms upon purchase in 1994, 5 more in 1997, the part-funded Darts in 2004 and the 19 MANViros in 2008). And that's just what I can remember of the top of my head. 

At the launch of Stockton's E300s, the MD stated that his aim for the next set of new vehicles was to start renewing the decker fleet at Newcastle. We shall see what happens. However, even with the end of the Macmillan contracts at Stockton, I wouldn't be too surprised if some of the oldest E400s don't end up moving south to assist with what will probably be very high peak time loadings from September (depending what Macmillan Academy plan on doing regarding the students that currently use the 200-205).