(19 May 2021, 7:09 pm)logidoodah wrote I was in Eldon Square Bus Station earlier on today and I saw quite a few ALX300's (as usually allocated to X47, X77/8, X82, X87/88) and I think I only saw 1 possibly 2 that didn't cough out thick black smoke, they look even older compared to GNE's Citaro's (one coughed out black smoke I think and it was either 5337/5338) and Omnicites,[/size] even though there not much older.  I think this is because no other buses were coughing out black smoke.

The MAN E200's are awful for kicking out smoke and also need replacing as a few still work the 6/7/8 & 32/32A while as you say the ALX300's are usually allocated X47, X63, X77/X78, X82, X87/X88 with the odd few sneaking on the 10/11/12/22/31 and 100 most days. Not sure what has had Euro 6 upgrades other than MAN E300's 24101-15, i'd imagine the 60 plate E400's have along with E400H's but there is a fare few 07/57/58 plate E400's which are Euro 4 rated.

Either way Stagecoach need to invest massively in Newcastle in the coming months with the emission zone coming into effect and I would personally like to see new buses on the Newcastle Expresses as it would give them a much needed boost as they've went far to long with having an "odd ball" allocation as we see on a daily basis and I do think this will impact passengers numbers when majority of the vehicles allocated do no not have Wifi or NSA's.