(20 Feb 2022, 12:31 pm)L469 YVK wrote Or taking advantage of a longer layover, perhaps re-route away from Marden Quarry and straight down Mast Lane through Cullercoats and up Whitley Road to provide a combined frequency with GNE's 1?

Going back to orders, I'd be surprised to see any new deckers heading to Jesmond. But.....that could be the case, if Arriva perhaps want to see 7401-7406 out until they're 8 year old and then potentially look at a large OM936 StreetDeck order for the X15/X18/X93 although E400MMCs would be ok for the first 2x routes.

I do hope that if Arriva order the E400MMC they go for ZF gearboxes & 10.9m length.

Aye wouldn't be the worst idea that tbf like.

See I think they will me as Jesmond is effectively Blyth now as the routes will be moving and the fact the 1/2 are going soon would suggest the plans are going to be sooner than expected. I can't see them wanting to send shagged Enviro's anywhere near Blyth when the movements happen and it can't be singles so they need something there. Believe it's rumoured the 306/52/53/54 are all going to Blyth so the 306 just seems the obvious one. The 43/44/45 can then hoover up all the Pulsar's lingering around lately (There's at least 6 at Blyth without a route soon, the new Liverpool ones and then the ex 306 ones aswell) and then Walkergate can be a Pulsar/Minibus depot. It also means Blyth's fleet age would come down as it's getting rather elderly now, the newest bus there is 10 year old now.

It all adds up aswell

Blyth (43 Decker / 15 Single capacity) = 31/33 Gemini's (if Whitby's came), 7 Enviro 400 MMC and 14 Streetlite's
Walkergate (30 Capacity) = 14 Enviro 200 MMC, 16 Pulsar (3 685, 12 43/44/45)

Can't see anything for the X93 for awhile though tbh. I think they'll flog the B9's until their death bed. They're pretty much guaranteed to be 10.4m aswell since it's all Blyth can fit in the new depot plans.