(26 Jul 2022, 11:22 am)peter wrote The afternoon X85 was operated by a Solo yesterday, assuming that was the correct allocation then yes it will be Solo operated.
No, seemingly Versa's will be allocated to most journeys on the 688 (apart from 1st and last return trips), most journeys on the 680 (apart from 1st, 2nd and last return journeys), half of the 684 journeys and the morning X85.
So the allocation has changed from 6 Solo's and 5 Versa's to 8 Solo's and 3 Versa's. However, when the CAZ is introduced then the new interworking pattern would mean the 3 Versa's and 4 of the Solo's would need to be Euro 6. As the contracts were only extended by 1 year I can't see GNE buying new vehicles so I wonder if some of the shorter 83xx Euro 6 Versa's will be moved to Hexham.
Can't see the Versa's moving to Hexham, they're needed for the 25/28/29 so you're just shifting the problem to Washington instead of Hexham and the rest are Euro 4/5 bar the 3 09 plates which got upgraded for some reason.
I have a feeling they'll just buy some buses for Hexham but sadly they'll be breadvans like they were trialing a few weeks ago to save money.