(11 Oct 2024, 6:28 pm)Storx wrote The X15 and X18 also need something less than 3 year old aswell... The B9TL's at Blyth is an absolutely horrific idea aswell. Let's take away the most reliable vehicles at a depot which can't keep buses on the road as it is and replace them with the most unreliable vehicles in the fleet.

If you're going to do this.

6x B9TL -> Durham
6x 16 Plate MMC's -> Ashington
4x 72 Plate MMC's -> Redcar

Least Ashington gain some more deckers which they badly need in the process and is a fair compromise.

The B9TL's wouldn't be anymore unreliable than the oldest DB300's & Classic E400 at Blyth. They'd definitely handle the 306/308 and 43/44/45 okay.

GNE are still using 6043-48 up / down the hills everyday from Derwentside on the 47 despite them being flogged to death for five years on the A19 and then used on the 10/10A/10B, still having to cover for 6308-14 on the X9/X10.

Saying that.....is there not a way Arriva could keep all the E400MMC's together in Northumbria including the ex Kent examples, with classic E400's going to Durham & Tees?