(12 Nov 2020, 8:27 pm)L469 YVK wrote I think the 6 Cylinder StreetDeck is a great idea by WrightBus to fill the void left by the B9TL and provide a heavy duty competitor to the Scania ADL E400MMC.
But........the integral ADL E400MMC can handle most jobs that an OM936 StreetDeck or Volvo B9TL can. Plus also the fact that the ADL E400MMC qualifies for BSOG (now with both gearbox variants) makes it a no brainer over the OM936 StreetDeck. Yes, granted the interior & bodywork is not as solid as WrightBus products but they do what they say on the tin considering Arriva & Stagecoach have ordered a load of Classic E400 and E400MMC vehicles over the last decade.
Irrespective of the StreetDeck allocation on the X1, I doubt GNE under the current management would've considered the OM934 StreetDeck for the X1 as a first point of call if things had've been all good at WrightBus.
I don't use the route that often, but to me the X1 isn't demanding enough for a 6 cylinder, I think the 4 cylinders will be perfectly adequate. Realistically, the 4 cylinder StreetDeck is probably more than good enough for most of GNE's routes that are currently ran by the B9s.
As I've said before, I've absolutely nothing against the E400, in fact I do think it's probably the better option for the low height vehicles. However, my main issue with their order of E400s was the order of low height vehicles on routes that don't need them. Obviously that probably turned out to be a good move with them ending up on a different route than originally intended.
In fact, one of my favourite buses in the fleet is an E400 (6337, those seats though!) but it's the taller variant that still manages to fit under the bridge at Dunston, which was the main reason for the low height order in the first place!
So, why go for such a low height, at the expense of passenger comfort, when it's not needed? It's not even the walking around, 6337 just feels a lot airier than the rest.