(11 Dec 2021, 7:27 pm)streetdeckfan wrote I do disagree slightly about only small parts of the route being flat out.

While obviously it's not motorway, the dual carriage way between Low Fell and A1 is pretty much flat out, as is between CLS and Pity Me, then between Durham and Croxdale, then it's fast A roads between Middlestone Moor and Coundon

Sent from my AC2003 using Tapatalk

Will be an interesting few years ahead. I still don't agree the B5TL is the right vehicle for the route.

Yes in hindsight between Durham and Newcastle, it's just a 'fast' version of the 21, that route being more than capable of using lightweight vehicles. But given that it goes beyond Durham now and the fact the route is over 31mi long, the likes of the ADL E400MMC  or OM936 StreetDeck is what the route ideally needs for stability.

Obviously the B5TLs do have some life left in them but definitely wouldn't keep on the X21 past 7 year old and I'd suggest replacements when they're between 5-7 year old.

Also taking into account they were hammered on the X9 & X10 suffering a similar fate to 6043-48 which were starting to struggle around 2015 until they were replaced in 2017.