(16 Jan 2016, 3:46 pm)Jimmi wrote Done two journeys on Sapphire 7 this afternoon to/from Durham. Journey to Durham was Pulsar 1514 and had a fair few on for the whole of my journey and I am now heading home on Enviro 400 7537 and it is very busy and that's on a double decker. Wonder if there is any chance that the 7 will go full double decker operation in the future?

Well, knowing Arriva and their mix / match allocations, although not all of the 57 plate Sapphires at Ashington aren't complete and utter wrecks although there are some, I think that Arriva would most likely end up buying a whole new set of deckers for the 7 (10 required) if the 7 went fully double deck anytime soon with:

- 7534 to 7537 alongside 7540 transferring to Ashington meaning that the X21 / X22 would end up running with 7x 14 plate E40Ds, 5x 15 plate E40Ds, 1x 09 plate E40D and 2x 57 plate E40Ds with 2x or 3x 57 plates being kept as spare with the rest either going scrap, being sent around the country or staying in the region but moving to Darlo / Belmont as spares (although the 7 does have some low bridges where the full height E40D might not manage to get through according to Kuyoyo).

Not forgetting to mention though that this is based upon ADL stopping production of the Classic E400 bodywork and all E40Ds being the MMC version which will eventually happen at somepoint. Having the MMC and Classic operating on the same routes would be a bit shite and it's best to keep the vehicle types on a premium route the same or very similar for that matter. So although in theory it may be a good idea just to buy 8x new vehicles for the X21 / X22 (unless Classic bodywork), buying an additional 2x would allow a whole route to benefit from the same new vehicle type which in this instance, it would be the 7.

Of course, all of the above would depend upon:
- Further passenger growth on the 7
- Need for more single deck Sapphire spec vehicles either in the North East or nationally.


Note to mods: No propaganda to get the 57 plates shifted but would be the most likely option knowing Arriva.