(10 Mar 2021, 12:24 am)mb134 wrote 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.
Yeah valid points with the loadings tbf the X15 does get bus especially at peak times in the Summer tbf. Definitely with the 685, no doubt we'll see some Streetlites though then the bosses will be confused after a few months why they've got older stock running on it.
(10 Mar 2021, 1:19 am)Jimmi wrote I'm not convinced you'd even be able to suitably accommodate coaches at Morpeth Bus Station in particular the electronic ramps many coaches have these days may not have the space to be used on the conventional stands, don't know what the dedicated long distance stand is like for space.
The X14 is a weird one for what to use as I've often had not particularly high loadings on it but at other times you can end up with pretty much a full seated loading on an E400.
Not sure on having coaches on 685 again as more tends to be used in parts rather than the full route although you do get some that will do a full journey to/from Carlisle for a jolly, part of me would like to see it go decker operated but it's only required for the school loadings most of the time.
Fair point with Morpeth, forgot they rebuilt the bus station there since the coaches we're originally on.
Dunno about the 685 though, it's quite similar to some of Stagecoach Highland's bus routes the X99 and 10 from Inverness in particular and they're quite popular on there. Suppose it depends how many people are making long'ish trips tho ie. Haltwhistle to Carlisle rather than Haltwhistle to Greenhead etc.
(10 Mar 2021, 9:48 am)RMF1254 wrote Having travelled on these routes many times, I would prefer double deckers. They are much better for tourist type routes for the views; the views from the top deck along the coast from Warkworth to Alnwick on the X18/X20 of Alnmouth and the river are excellent. Likewise for the coast around Seahouses, Bamburgh, Holy Island.
Is there much height difference between a coach and a double decker? Genuine question that (not rhetorical). Must be quick close surely or we're talking cm's rather than metres difference at least - I could be wrong though.