(12 Oct 2024, 7:48 pm)PH - BQA wrote The 43/44/45 keep being mentioned but they’re imminently due electrics.
As well as 7370-7, Olympians 7410-3 in particular also got a hammering. I remember 7410 and 7413 in particular being consistent performers on the X20 right up until the end, when they would have been 16. 7414-20 lived a rather more sedate life at Jesmond in contrast.
The B9TLs at this point are a non-standard batch of vehicles which have been hammered on the X93/4 for nearly 10 years and can’t work north of the Tyne without costly modifications. I wonder if the best place for them may be the X66/7 after some TLC?
Totally forgot about the EV's for the 43/44/45 haha!
Well you say they can't but, just thought of the perfect use for them if they could hack Whorral Bank and Arriva made the service standalone again should any changes happen to the X21 in the future. And would still be compliant as the route doesn't go into the clean air zone either. But again, Northumbria needs flexibility so would be a no go.
The Volvo Olympians were absolute beasts though. That sound of the Cummins L10 while or the fumbling background noise of the Volvo D10-245 was immense. Why the heck did British Bus order Scania N113 Cityzens with an absolute shambles of a body, instead of following up Proudmutual's initial order of (7)370-(7)377!