(24 May 2023, 11:29 am)EastCoastMXZ1751 wrote Looks like Blyths E400s are struggling today all of 7502-5 have broken down, prehaps those 57 regs should be put on easier work would it not make sense sending 7501-6 to Ashington in trade for 7528-33 as the Ashington E400s are only allocated to scholars and 35s through the week we're as the 57 reg examples are used daily on express work so seems better having the newer ones on express work and older ones on the 35 and Scholars.

Firstly, on paper 7501-6 should be on the 43 which is "easier" than what they're being used on. 

At least 2 of 7527-33 are on the X21/22 most days (as they should be, they make up the vehicle requirements for those services). 

The school buses tend to be whatever is due for planned maintenance checks, you'll notice that it is extremely rare that the same bus does the AM and PM part of the board as it should be on paper. Yesterday both the AM and PM were 72 plate MMCs. 

On days such as today where there's been MMC failures, those E400s are also more than capable of covering a Morpeth express board, which 7501-6 really aren't.

7501-6 will likely be replaced by the new electric deckers that are rumoured in any case, so they shouldn't be at Blyth for too much longer relatively speaking.