(17 Apr 2021, 9:19 pm)Malarkey wrote I personally feel have struck lucky with the new X11 as their was as mentioned in previous posts quite a few passengers on board resulting in a duplicate working with 7111 from I understanding joining 6377 at Heworth from what a driver told me during a brief chat a Whitby before heading down to Scarborough.
6377 performed extremely well with some of the steep inclines during the latter part of the route passed with through with ease as I only used it between Whitby and Scarborough having got the X9/X94 from Gateshead down to Whitby to give me a bit of time before it arrived in order to get some decent photos.
On the flip side of Arriva coin I had 7526 a B7 ALX400 which struggled with even a small incline, maybe Arriva need to take note of this new venture from Go North East and up there game with some new buses for the X93/X94 as they are crying out for it when the B9's are out of service, I noted 1438/1569 & I had the pleasure of 2862 on my return X93 journey back to Middlesbrough having photographed it heading in the opposite direction going to Scarborough, this was as a result of having been hit with "Drivers Discression" on "Covid Capacity Restrictions" on the X93/X94 where 1438/1569 were allocated so waited an hour and a half for a bus which was not very fun at all.
Therefore I see a potential gap where Go North East could step in with more Whitby to Scarborough shorts going via Robin Hoods Bay as I do think Arriva are their for the taking in this neck of the woods, I actually tried to ring Arriva to see if an extra bus could be sent as 20 of us were left standing but there offices were closed at 15:40 this afternoon despite the automated person saying they were open 8-5:30, terrible customer service and a clear don't care attitude towards their passengers.
Anyway enough of me having a little rant, see below a few photos of 6377 on the X11.
6377 in Whitby on it's maiden journey to Scarborough - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...ed-public/
6377 in Scarborough following it's first trip to Scarborough heading into the East Yorkshire Depot - https://www.flickr.com/photos/adammalark...ed-public/
I believe 2862 was allocated to the X93 this afternoon as a result of a passenger being sick on 7401 and 2862 was all that was spare at Whitby to replace it, can't say I enjoyed that one all the way from Scarborough to Middlesbrough this afternoon.
I do wish Arriva would do more to try and minimise the liklihoods of single deckers doing X93/X94 during the peak season especially atm with reduced capacity, don't help that some B9s are off for repaint.