(01 May 2022, 3:04 pm)Dan wrote It also doesn’t need all that.

I saw no post on this forum the other day when 8/9 Volvo B5s were on the X21, the only one absent being 6308.


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But why have Arriva used them as their choice of vehicle on the Ashington & Alnwick 'X' routes? The E400 classics allocated to the X15/X18 have done well although well overdue for replacement now given the nature of their work, and they're about to receive 19x E400MMC.

GNE's B9TLs 6043-6048 lasted five years (although with a struggle at times) on the X9/X10. As for the B5TLs, replacements were being talked about only after 2.5 years just before covid hit. Okay I know the X9/X10 were a different kettle of fish but the X21 is still too much for the B5TLs.

As long as a low bridge decker spare was sorted to cover the X30/X31, having a stable fleet of 9x E400MMC on the X21 (with StreetDecks used as spares), and a stable fleet of 7x B5TL on the X70/X71/X72 (with 6334/35 actually more suited to a 'proper' spare role due to them being ex dealer stock) would be far better than now with both allocations matching the exact PVR.