(31 Jul 2022, 6:59 pm)peter wrote I agree that the 57 will most likely see deckers. The only thing I could think of is the 93/94, do they get good enough loadings to warrant deckers? If no, the Versa's could go on there to see the deckers go on the 57, could have all of 6149-6161 branded East Gateshead Rider - 13 buses for PVR 14, which is no different from the 10 being one short. Let's say 5384-90 go on the 93/94, 5381-3 could then go on the X66.
Just a little correction, 8306 is only Euro 4 according to the GNE fleet list (as of December). The 34 would make the most sense for 8339-42 which could displace 8299-8302 which are seemingly currently still at Chester, then 8294-98 presumably will be withdrawn following their stint at A-line. I can see 8307-18 staying on the 49/49a and 67/69 for the time being tbh, as the 49/67/69 don't need Euro 6 buses and it makes sense to keep those three euro 6 ones as it adds extra flexibility if they were needed elsewhere.
The only thing still seemingly up in the air is 6356-63 as there's still not really any obvious service for them to go on to. Part of me is honestly wondering if 6362/63 will go on the X1, with 6361 kept as the last 70 plate as an extra spare, then the 5 20-reg examples going to Oxford with the rest of the batch that was sent down there originally due to Covid.
See honestly if I was going to take a punt on where things will end up I kinda want to say:
8294 - 8302/6 (Euro 4) - Withdrawn
8307 - 8309 (Euro 6) - Withdrawn / Deptford Spares
8310 - 8318 (Euro 5) - 35/61 Deptford
8339 - 8342 (Euro 5) - 34
6331 - 6333 - Washington Spares
6356 - 6363 (Euro 6) - 1 to Washington / 58
6377 - X10 Spare
6149 - 6154 - 57
5453 - 5469 - 6/12/X66/Riverside Spares
Quaylink Versa's - 49/49A/67/69
5501 - 5504/5509/5510 + all 08/58 Merc's withdrawn.
5334 - 5336 - Deptford Spares
It means that all the frontline singles at Riverside are Euro 6 so you don't have problems with buses which are restricted to certain routes and the oldest fuel hungry Citaro's are gone but I do kind of agree with the feeling the Streetdeck's might leave the region aswell if I had to be honest like you said.