(07 Mar 2020, 10:39 pm)L469 YVK wrote There's nothing wrong with the E400MMCs on the X21 / X22. But if Arriva were to go with presumably E400MMCs, would it not make sense to put them on a route that would suit ZF gearboxes better with the current Voith examples being used on a more 'stop-start' type of route?

Unlike Stagecoach, Arriva spec'd their classic E400s with ZF gearboxes but changed to Voith with the MMCs as stop-start was only available with Voith until recently.

Indeed, nothing wrong with the MMCs at all for the X21/22. The 14 plates seem to be set up better for higher speeds though, had one of them the other week on the X14 out of Newcastle and it was effortless getting to 62mph on the A1 - I'd like to see any new vehicles for the Morpeth express routes given the ZF box. 

The X21/22 is quite stop-start, for nearly half the route all it does is stop and start! The MMCs deal well with the higher speed sections of it too, least I've never seen them struggle. 

I'd like to see the X93 get new vehicles over the next couple of years, though then you've got the issue of trying to find a home for 6 non-standard B9TLs that have been hammered on the X93 for the best part of 6 years. 

Honestly a route that could probably do with new vehicles, it'd only need E200MMCs, would be the X12. They need to do a better job of marketing the only route that connects their Northumbria and Durham County operations - it has so much potential but is horrifically executed.