(12 Jan 2016, 4:12 pm)South Tyne Lad wrote The fact they were considered fit for a Demanding route like the X20 after being pounded to death from Enfield Depot in North London for 13 years is beyond belief, Moving the E400s to Belmont was a big mistake, Hopefully the 55reg B7TLs despite there more superior ZF gearbox than the earlier models like 7412 will only be another Stopgap till potential investment can come around.

So, what deckers should have been done for the 6 then? And, considering there's only 3 E400s and the X20 needs 4........

We also now have to consider that 7412-5 now have no home considering these ALX400s are going on the X20 (and also to Durham - I did hear Jesmond were due some so I expect they are the ones now losing out on the B7s). So, where do 7412-5 go now? No good for the Summer X93 if they can't handle the X20 which is a far less demanding route.

As for 13 year old ex-London deckers on demanding routes you claim is 'beyond belief' - 7484-91/3/4 managed the X93 fine when they arrived from London 2 years ago when they were more-or-less the same age as 7412-5. Ok yes, they had to stop half way up Flyingthorpe Bank to drop down a gear but still.