(19 Aug 2023, 11:59 am)mb134 wrote Neither of those routes are easy. Easier than the X93 sure, but the X14 is essentially all NSL running with lots of hills and a 9 minute blast flat out on the A1. The X20 is flat out from North Seaton to Gosforth, again not ideal for buses which are struggling already. 

The current 14/64 plate E400s can just about handle them both, but then they haven't been nailed on the X93 for their entire lives. 

If the B9s are to be moved, then realistically they need put onto something far less strenuous such as the X46 as Storx has suggested.

If Blyth (and Walkergate outstation) had 6x 14/64/15 plate E400 classics capable of the X14/X20, would this not work?

- 6x B9TL - 43/44/45 (or whatever Blyth throw them on)

- 6x E400 Classics back to Ashington for X14/X20

- 4x (on top of the 2x already down there) E400MMC to Whitby for the X93/X94.