Cobalt271 wroteI'm not sure about the X93 but the X18s current allocation of E400s are far from fine. They are well knackered after being hammered for 6 years now. The plus with investment in a route like this is that it sends the vehicles to displace ones much older whilst giving the vehicle an easier life pre 'retirement'

There's other routes which are in a worst state though. The 57 has had a full size single or a decker on every day this week as 1800/1801/2809/2812/2813 are all knackered. 2812/2813 both being off the road atm. There's not anywhere that really needs more Enviro's in the North East fleet, it's singles and minis (especially) that are getting pretty desperate.

Same as 15 year old Scanias aren't suited for flagship routes such as the X26/X27/X66/X67.

It wouldn't surprise me if some ex London Gemini's turn up soon from London to replace 7410 - 7415 and 7484 - 7491. If they had any sense they'd get a few more and move 1401 - 1402, 1493, 1497, 1501 - 1505, 1579 - 1580 out of Blyth and Ashington for somewhere else as they're not suited to the routes they serve especially once Blyth have juggled everything around with the 35 being a full Gemini allocation.

(29 Sep 2020, 11:36 pm)solsburian wrote Sadly with the current circumstances (COVID and DB wanting rid), I do worry we'll go back to the dark days of the 2000s with knackered buses trundling around in an appalling state (i.e. Blyth's Cityzens) looking for passengers.

Tbf Arriva / Northumbria have always invested in batches though. It's the same with Stagecoach's fleet which is getting a bit old in places aswell. There's no point in replacing things that aren't needed. The majority of the single / decker fleet really doesn't need replacing atm and there's nowhere for them to go. Minis will be next in line though and maybe something for the Scania's in terms of new buses though imo.

Remember the Cityzens and Europeans were only 13 year old when they were started to get replaced which isn't great for a full size single or decker (should be 15 year) but they we're built like a sieve and leaked everywhere. Amazingly some of them we're still running to the DDA deadline - god knows how. The Northern Counties Scanias we're much worse though with their bus seats and leg room that only a child could get in though imo and very outdated interior.