(12 Sep 2020, 5:49 pm)L469 YVK wrote That's the whole point I was getting across earlier in response to Dan's post. As things stand now, none of us have a crystal ball and it's highly likely on the basis of now that the StreetDecks will see their 7-8 year stint out on the X1. But IF (and that's a big one) the economic outlook improves within the next 2-3 years (2022/23) to put GNE in a position to order new vehicles again, it wouldn't be a surprise if GNE decided to replace these for a "mid-weight" vehicle type with the StreetDecks being cascaded on a route where newer vehicles could be justified (not necessarily just the 56 or Cobalts).
If the StreetDecks get to year 3 and are reliable enough on the X1, it would make sense to keep them on the X1. But if the X1 proved to be too intense for these, then the option "could" be there but again referring to my previous mention about crystal balls.
GNE did that this year with the X9 & X10 replacing 3 year old Volvo B5TLs with coaches. Arriva also did the same back in 2003 on the 10's predecessor route replacing unreliable 3 year old Dennis Trident ALX400s with Volvo B10BLEs (also in response to declining passengers on the Ryton corridor).
You keep forgetting that there's no-where for the Streetdecks to go, you can just go replacing the B9TL's which have at least 7 year left in them for the sake of it. There's literally about 100 single deckers and minibuses which more urgently need replacing especially the Mercedes and Omnicities (which can only be replaced by new vehicles on the 5/50) and are already nearly life expired. That's before we even start discussing the Euro Mods which they've had from their respective councils which will have terms behind them.
Also there's Streetdecks/B5TL's (they're similar) running on numerous Transdev routes such as the 36 and the Coaster routes which are a hell of a lot more harder work than the X1.
Just to add the coaches aren't new (2015 plates from Oxford) nor were the B10BLE's (ex. Arriva Scotland West). It wouldn't be a surprise to me if we don't see a new decker with GNE until at least 2025 imo bar ex London or elsewhere stock to see off the Omnidekkas in a similar way there wasn't any between 2005 and 2010 (deckers have a 15 year shelf life).