(07 Apr 2021, 6:07 pm)Adrian wrote I cannot see anyone considering something the size of XLBs, until they know what the passenger numbers are likely to return to once social distancing etc is dropped. Lothian paid about £11.3m for 42, so around 270k per bus. 
The 21 is only really full out of Durham or Newcastle during peak times, but some of the largest employers in Durham City have most of their staff working from home for the foreseeable. 

There's also the issue of Eldon Square bus station. The X9/X10 don't serve it, presumably due to the size, and the XLBs are the same length. 

As I said in the other thread, I think Quaylink would be a good contender for the latest funding available, if they can do something with the cash-strapped Nexus. I really cannot see any great expense being poured into the X66 though. You'll recall that even when the Streetlites were ordered a good few years ago now, they still cut costs on them by down-speccing them on what was the standard at the time.