(05 Jan 2025, 8:56 am)solsburian wrote With franchising on the horizon I don't see Northumbria getting many (if any) brand new vehicles for now (the electrics for the 43/44/45 excluded perhaps).

In fairness, it would make sense but they've just bought loads of buses for Liverpool who are also getting franchising aswell so who knows.

Unless Arriva only wants it crap network in Kent and the Midlands then they probably might want to show a change in colours as they're on track to lose Liverpool, Leeds and most of the North East which are their money makers. Not to mention their Crosscountry train contract is going to be up eventually aswell.

If they're only buying electrics, then it would make sense to replace some of the DB300's/Pulsars at Blyth with them, it's probably the easiest they're going to get around the country. The 14/15 Plate Enviro 400's and 12 Plate Pulsars could then head to Ashington and that's Northumbria sorted until at least 2027/28. The Ashington fleet bar the 4 58 Plate E400's is fine as it is really, if they could get arid of the few older Pulsars lingering around.