(07 Aug 2024, 7:39 pm)L469 YVK wrote Maybe, but a Volvo B9TL other than a flat out thrash between Station Road and Benfield Road, effectively floating along the rest of the way to North Shields through High Farm, Battle Hill, Hadrian Park, West Chirton and Meadowell at 20/30 mph is an easy way to burn cash. StreetDecks would be far more appropriate for the 307 & 309. The 309 ain't really a hard route either and is now getting rather congested around the Coast....again stop / start at the stops saving fuel with the StreetDeck.
Aye, but I'd argue a B9TL in an urban area is even worse. The stop/start tech on Streetdeck's will help massively on stuff like the 51/52 where it's just pottering around streets. They're complete overkill for the routes as the whole route is literally 20/30mph. If we're going for economics anyway. The ex London stock shouldn't really be in frontline service either so would be a big upgrade in comparison to the Cobalt B9's to a Streetdeck which is an arguably downgrade for passengers.