(14 Nov 2023, 8:30 pm)RobinHood wrote Arriva finance policy now dictates 18 years of life for any vehicles (depreciated over 15 years), so only buses that have hit that 18 years of age will be potentially replaced.

Not a popular decision internally to be honest! This may change now that iSquared will be calling the shots.

From what I've been told though, subject to major short term plan changes, the commercial and engineering team have been tasked with reviewing current DD allocations Vs where there are actually needed, which may see some permanent DD movements to places like Redcar or Darlington for example.

However, I am reliably informed that 7609/7610 will be running on Whitby P&R next year to put that rumour to bed. Also, a belief that all of the B7s currently in service in ANE are already planned to be replaced with new at some point in 2024 (subject to manufacturing lead in times).

I'm assuming the change under DB, is more to the point that someone has realised there's absolutely tonnes of buses coming up in the next 3 years and to put it simply it's kicking the rather large can down the road.

Interesting to see what the DD plans, as I can't think of many routes in Northumbria with decker's on which don't need the deckers at all.