(10 Mar 2021, 12:14 am)Storx wrote Honestly can't really disagree with that tbh expecially for the X14, X16, X18 and X20. Maybe could do a swap with the 35/X14 for the school run.
Would love to see coaches back on the X15 though mind over deckers, just think for the distance think they'd be actually useful as it's pretty much an express service throughout with a small batch at Jesmond for the 685 aswell. Think the additional comfort would suit them. The extra dwell time might be a problem going into Morpeth, Alnwick and Berwick but the 10 in the Highlands doesn't really have any issues with that and they've been coaches in the past.
I'm told reasonably reliably that certain X15 journeys now (well, pre-Covid), would struggle with a coach in terms of loading - with deckers being reasonably full. I'm possibly wrong on the specifics, but I believe one such trip is the 0653 from Alnwick which can take a decent load into Newcastle. I'd love to see coaches but I think it's unrealistic anyway with Arriva, though they possibly wouldn't make sense anyway with loads.
I've seen virtually all of the Alnwick runs (X15/18/20) take full seated loads in and out of Newcastle in the past, so I think they realistically need deckers for flexibility if nothing else. I've never seen an X16 need anything more than a Pulsar, and I think I've seen an X14 fill a single decker on a few occassions (tends to be if the Alnwick express before it is running late).
The 685, however... I'd hope Arriva realise with all routes currently operated by Scanias that they really need heavy duty replacements, though I guess we'll have to wait and see about that.