(18 Sep 2022, 11:59 am)L469 YVK wrote Maybe they had plans before covid? But got put on hold for obvious reasons.
Arriva's Northumbria network looks to have recovered mostly well bar a few rotten eggs that should hopefully be sorted in time.
Hopefully Blyth's turn next year......I'd say if anything for the 308 (and 306 if interworking), send 12x of whatever is due to Blyth to Ashington then let 7541-52 see out their time at Blyth on the 308. I doubt GNE will allocate anything newer than 67 reg StreetDecks on the 309/310/311 (cascaded presumably off the 21) unless they won some sort of Green Bus fund bid or GAG's new investors had a change of heart.
Don't see the point in moving those to Blyth.
imo a sensible investment for Blyth would be
2023: X7/X8/X9 - 14 Streetdeck + 1 Spare, 7601 - 7608 moved onto 306/308/X10/X11 (officially X7/X8/X9 on paper); 1490, 1493, 1495, 1496, 1500 - 1505 moved elsewhere (no space for Pulsar's at Blyth with the new depot plans so need to move if the Streetlite's move there - possibly the 43/44/45 to replace the 57/58 plate Enviro's)
2024: X10/X11 - 8 Streetdeck + 1 Spare, 7601 - 7608, 7611 - 7615 moved to reserve role
2026: 306/308 - Whatever buses are around then, replace all Gemini's
The X7, X8, X9 are going to be affected by the Blyth and Tyne line the most so you might want to improve the service before it turns it up otherwise they could be in big trouble.