GNE if they don't want to subsidise Mr Souter should look at the BCI Excellence once they become more proven (no I don't work for EnsignBus by the way hehe)! All deckers come with a 6.7L Cummins / ZF as standard and they even have a nice 'Gardner' sound to them!
Few videos doing the rounds on Youtube and they seem capable enough.
RE: Go North East: Latest News & Discussion - November 2017