(12 Apr 2022, 5:27 pm)54APhotography wrote Spares must be a problem, anything from abroad seems delayed and mixed up in the customs fiasco we have. The Versa are temperamental, and I must admit, I've passed several sat stranded on 2s at various spots.
The Deptford Mercs based on withdrawal patterns have what 2 or 3 years left?
Not up to speed on Versa engines, whether they have been replaced or not.
Certainly cuts are another inevitability. The future is a very uncertain one..
Aye guess it's what they see. Some of the Versa's don't have much longer (some of the 09 plates are already getting withdrawn). They're probably due at the same, the catch 22 is the Merc's have had a refurbishment in their lifetime however most the 09/10 plate Versa's haven't been touched in their whole life and are showing their age.
Have a feeling it might be 09 Versa's (Euro 4) -> 08/58 Citaros (Euro 5) -> 09 Versa's (Euro 6) - 10/11 Versa's (Euro 5) -> 10 Citaro's (Euro 5) - 11 Versa's (Euro 6) will be the order they'll be withdrawn. Don't believe the Versa's have had an engine replacement, but could be wrong there.
It seems the 09 Versa's are next in line to go though and can imagine the electric buses will do most of them out of service.