(12 Aug 2023, 1:14 pm)L469 YVK wrote Could this not be down to GNE buying heavy duty buses such as B9TLs between 2011-2015? Bit like Arriva Northumbria who had Cityzens and Palatine II's worked like dogs from around 1996/97 until between 2019-2012 when withdrawn.

It's more singles that's the problem more than the Deckers to be fair. There's probably an argument whether some of the Gateshead buses with the ex London Deckers need deckers at all and it's more of a we've got no buses to put on there, these will do scenario.

The Versa's are rubbish though and Streetlite's are well Streetlite's. There's been very little investment in singles since 2017 really other than the Voltra's and E200 MMC's which are arguably without a route atm. 

Mind that said the Cityzen's got withdrawn early as they were absolute sheds, good engine terrible body work. These 'new' ex London Decker's would be the equivilent age of when those were withdrawn.