(28 Jun 2019, 1:46 pm)S830OFT wrote </p><p>
</p><p>Considering most of the 05 plate Darts have already been withdrawn, it's peculiar Arriva are willing to retain the remaining ones for a good few more years. I believe it would make perfect sense to send 2819, 20 to Ashington allowing service 57 to have a full Optare allocation, and to standardise the Midibus fleet at Ashington.</p><p><br></p><p>Without the need to withdraw 1800/1801, they could always take up a spare role at other depots allowing older spare vehicles i.e. 1759, 4516, 4523 to be withdrawn.</p><p>
</p><p><br></p><p>The 05 plate MPDs that have been withdrawn have been due to them being surplus and nowhere for them to go. And a spare role to replace full length buses (bar 1759)?...</p>