Last year the open tops were basically part of the normal allocation as we were so short on buses, indeed two were listed on the fleetcard rather than just as reserve, hence they were still in service in October. This is why the four Cambridge ones came up on loan until a permanent replacement could be found.
(12 Feb 2025, 12:03 am)Storx wrote If 24101-24115 are staying, I wonder if some of the 64/65 Plate Enviro 300's might displace some E200's out from either Sunderland or South Shields down to Hartlepool.Sunderland need 200s for the 8, 10/11 and 23. You can get a full size bus round them all but it's far from ideal, especially the 8 and 10.
In theory, unless some leave the region, you've got:
84x Yutongs In
Out:
29x Gas
17x MAN's at Stockton (Assume)
4x Elderly E300's at Stockton
12x Darts
8x MAN E200's
Total 68
Leaves 16 buses still to go which are unaccounted for and if it's not the MAN's at Slatyford then the 59 Plate E200's are pretty much next on the chopping block which there just happens to be 16 of if you include the 08 plate one. There's also conveniently 17 E200's at Sunderland and conveniently the E300's plus extra Yutongs over the 11 Plates all adds up aswell, believe it's 48 if my maths are right including the ones at Walkergate. That extra E200, and the 3 E200's at Stockton seeing off the Darts at Hartlepool.
PS. I've well overthought this but it all works out.