(08 Dec 2016, 7:54 pm)LivingOnGNE wrote When are the Mercs going on X5?
I would imagine when new buses arrive, they can't cascade any Citaro's until they do, as the 4 from Peterlee are allocated to service 9. (2/4 so far due to not all of the Solo Sr's arriving from Thames Travel), while it's also more likely 2 Citaro's will be allocated to the 9 when they become available so it can become a fully Citaro route so Deptford should have services X5, 9, 35/35A/36 as Citaro's.
The Blaydon Racers were one of the Citaro routes rumoured to be getting new buses, it would seem logical because 9 Citaro's are needed at Deptford for a full allocation to the X5 (7) and 2 for the 9, with 1 spare and the Blaydon Racers is a busy route. The 35/36 were also rumoured to be getting get new buses.
If the 35/36 got new buses, they'll be enough to upgrade the X5 (7), 9 (Only need 2 because of Citaro's from the Peterlee) and the 61 (5) and leaves 1 spare and means more services have 1 set of buses.
Never know the 35/36 and the Blaydon Racers might both get upgraded.
Hopefully in the next couple of months, new buses start to arrive but it's all rumours at the moment.