(21 Feb 2020, 10:02 am)streetdeckfan wrote As long as they don't go for the 4 cylinder they should have plenty of poke. GNE went for the 4 cylinder with their E400s and they feel like they're about to roll back down on the way up Dunston Bank (same with their E200s in Whickham)

As for the quality with Wrightbus, we'll know what it's like under the new owners once GNE eventually receives their StreetDecks. Their 16 plate StreetDecks are pretty shoddy, but the 67 plates are a vast improvement, I can't say what it was like before they went into administration, but it certainly has to be better than what ADL were like a year or two back!

Having said that, so far GNE's E200/E400s have been fairly solid, with the only real issues coming from the awful quick release windows that are more rattly than a Streetlite door!

GNE's E400s are 6 Cylinder, the same as Arriva. The only difference being that GNE's ADL E400MMCs are fitted with ZF gearboxes unlike Arriva & Stagecoach who spec'd theirs with Voith gearboxes.

Only thing I can think why they'd struggle up Dusnton Bank is that an economy setting could be turned on (if a GNE inside would be able to confirm). 

ADL E400MMCs with ZF gearboxes would be more than adequate for most routes Arriva operate. But for the X93, the Scania E400 MMC would perhaps be a more suitable alternative. 7401-04 could then be transferred to Ashington for the X20 with 7405-06 acting as float spares as well as providing extras for the summer PVR increase on the X93.