(23 Nov 2017, 6:56 pm)Dan wrote It has been suggested on this forum previously that the early Optare Versas would be the most likely to be next in line for refurbishment, but I would be very surprised if it was in the immediate future, especially given that the rumoured service changes in South Tyneside have been alluded to come into effect from early in the new year and the vehicle refurbishment takes between 6 and 8 weeks.

The order for new vehicles for the Angel has now been confirmed representing a massive £4.3 million investment. As well as this, a further £1.6 million was spent on new vehicles for X9/X10 and £1.5 million on new coaches for the National Express fleet. In excess of £7 million has been invested in new vehicles, and that's before we include the refurbishment of a further 28 Mercedes Citaros in the fleet and any other investment which has yet to be confirmed. Any further investment into refurbishment of existing vehicles in the fleet would come at another cost, when Go North East has already been quite spend-happy this year!

The pattern for refurbishment investment has seen 36 Citaros in the 2016/17 financial year and 28 Citaros in the 2017/18 financial year. Logically the next refurbishment would come in the 2018/19 financial year (i.e. from next July onwards).