(10 Oct 2022, 8:12 pm)mb134 wrote No services are moving to Ashington at the end of October, so the 55 will need Euro 6 vehicles ahead of moving to Ashington (i.e not Solo's) if that is where it's moving to.

Not necessarily, there's an exception clause in the CAZ that you can continue to run vehicles that don't hit the criteria as long as there's an order in so as long as there's an order in for something Euro 6 then they can run them indefinitely.

https://www.breathe-cleanair.com/exemptions

"Vehicles awaiting replacement or retrofitting, where evidence is supplied that a compliant vehicle has been ordered or proof that the vehicle has been accepted for retrofitting by an approved supplier and is awaiting work to take place."

(10 Oct 2022, 8:25 pm)9920up wrote As grounding is the primary issue here, it makes sense to move the E200s asap to prevent damage. Darlington is the obvious place to put them due to the large number of elderly Solos deployed there. Clearly the movement of Solos to Ashington will be a temporary measure to enable service delivery.  It would seem to follow that Euro 6 stock will be required from somewhere to satisfy CAZ requirements and there is sure to be a plan for this.. Meanwhile, Darlington has gained a partial early upgrade, something that was needed and had to be on the cards anyway, due to the age and condition of the 08 Solos. It stands to reason that further investment is going to have to follow to resolve the Ashington problem and to complete the required transition at Darlington. Arriva can only keep the knackered old stock going for so long after all,

Yeah totally agreed, I wouldn't be surprised if there's not a second order anyway which gets shot of all the Solo's bar the 11/61 plate. Durham still have a few lingering on which badly need to go aswell tbh and Arriva seem to be one of the big operators actually buying buses atm which is rather ironic.