(03 Feb 2024, 2:48 am)glen wrote Why should Stockton depot and hartlepool depot be getting cascades all time it Stockton and hartlepool depot new buses that I think ?
your right they shouldn’t especially Hartlepool but let’s be realistic here Stagecoach are not going to buy new buses for the area anytime soon so cascades are the only option ( outside of funds been giving like zebra ). Hartlepool needs better buses so the only way to get them is cascades. Now looking at North East as a whole if Sunderland or Newcastle are successful in getting new buses that might free up some buses to send to Hartlepool and Stockton. If things get desperate in the next 12 months I suppose providing as long as they still in one piece they could temporarily bring some of the remaining Man 18.220 still at Stockton back into service as well. The recent cascades to Stockton are probably good for another 3-5 years though so they won’t be going anywhere.
Looking at the fleet realistically within the next 12 month the following will be withdrawn from front line service
Stockton.
05 plate Enviro 300s ( 4 )
Man 18.220. ( 2 ).
Hartlepool
04 plate Dennis Dart SLF (2)
Manviro 200s. (at least 1)
Some of the 34 and 36 fleet as well which is unreliable.
If you bring cascades in which are newer then the 2 04 plate darts can be used as reserves ( on paper they already are but are often still in use 7 days a week) and it should in theory see off the worse buses. Same with Stockton while nice buses and I like riding them if I get a chance the enviros and 18.220 should not be in daily use still and need to be replaced so cascades are the only way to do that. Credit to the engineering teams and Transbus really for building buses that have lasted this long but really newer buses need to be brought in. Saying that as long as they continue to be in decent condition I would happily see them for several more years.