(23 Feb 2020, 6:41 pm)scanialover wrote The X9/10 has rarely had vehicles that are suited to the demands of the route, the predominance of which, as we know, is on the A19. I've experienced at all levels; back in the day when Tees ran it as a joint operation with a collection of elderly vehicles being literally hammered between Middlesbrough and Newcastle right through to now with these B5's which look the part but aren't suited to the route. I never got to ride on the Panther, only saw it at M'bro Bus Station when it was on trial; it sure looked the part and would be a great advert to promote the service, whether these could cope with the non-motorway sections of the route I don't know.

Mechanically they'd be very capable, but they simply don't have the capacity without either increasing the frequency or ordering Panoramas - which would be even more expensive and then you struggle with what to do with them afterwards. I guess another issue with Panoramas is that you then have an 11 litre engine, further increasing costs. 

Standard E400MMCs have the 6.7L Cummins engine - a 34% increase in engine size on the B5TL, and are likely capable enough and would also be easier to displace onto other services afterwards. Scania MMCs obviously have the 9 litre engine but then are there many other routes in the GNE network which would need them over a standard MMC in the future? 

Aware this is verging into GNE discussion though so I'll stop there.