(20 Aug 2023, 6:57 pm)mb134 wrote Investment in a fleet of B8/Evora's, in my view, would be just about the smartest thing Arriva could do to sort out the mess of ADC. They'd be more than suitable for the routes you mention (the X66 in particular is a shout, especially given the growth on it recently), but I imagine also the likes of the X12. They seem like the perfect Pulsar replacement, and Arriva have already ordered a decent amount for other operations. 

I'd have said the 1 too, but after travelling on it on a rammed 4801 post frequency decrease (or the X1 going) it seems like that could actually benefit from deckers?

Obviously this is Arriva though, and it seems that sort of investment is a pipe dream at best.

I do question the allocations now for the 1/5 at Darlington depot, does seem like the E400s are finding their way onto this more now since the recent timetable changes with the 7 becoming increasingly single deck operation. Of course pre X1, the 1 was originally double deck allocated with 7514-21 and I do question if some move back down this way may be an idea, 5 which the 1 interworks with has some decker boards and in theory should be a bit busier now that it's had to take the slack from the 1 no longer serving South Church. 8/8A has at least one board that requires a decker in term time now too due to the 865 now being on an 8 board.