(31 Jan 2021, 12:31 pm)mb134 wrote Agreed, though with 7525 it's the third time in 8 days it has failed (first time was last Friday on the X18 at Acklington). Obviously stuff can go bang at any time, I think anyone would be understanding of one off occurrences - but again it seems to be a common theme of them fixing something and it failing again shortly afterwards. On your point about 7445/6 I find it amazing that the 19 year old 7484, with its time in London and on the X93, is in better nick than both of them - especially 7445 (the less said about that heap the better). 7514 also looks to have failed yesterday on the X18 south of Seahouses.

Regarding the new vehicles, if I remember rightly the rumour was 12x E400 MMCs for the X14/5/8 which neatly ties into the combined PVR. I'd assume that the plan would be to keep 7529-33/7553-6 as the allocation for the X20, moving 7511/2/4-7 and 4653/9/64 to less demanding work.

Can't remember numbers but believe it was enough to meet the year round PVR of the X14/X15/X18 so presumably would be bolstered up with older E400s for the extra runs in the summer and making up the X20 PVR and spares as well.

Don't think there's any plans to upgrade the X93/X94 at this time although I reckon could at least see the extra summer boards being upgraded somewhere down the line with younger stock from within the North East.