(28 May 2025, 7:38 pm)L469 YVK wrote Well EY have x7 dealer stock B9TL (x4 of them originally GNE 6118-21). Would GNE not be better doing a swap with EY? Even if they're kept away from CAZ work.
Also had a bit of a bluesky thought.
Think the PVR interworking would be x13 or x14, but would something like this not be worth some future investment?
- x14Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora
- 45 every 20/40 mins
- 46 every 60 mins
- 47 every 20 minutes and Consett > Blackhall Mill extension replaced by another service
Originally, it was the 47 that needed double deck capacity. Surely the 47 would cope fine on a 20 minute frequency and a nice clean 10 minute frequency between Rowlands Gill and Newcastle.
Basically buy good solid heavy duty vehicles and run them into the ground until they're 15-20 year old! GNE did it with the B10BLEs.
Truthfully if they sent them down I'd expect nothing in return tbh. They seem to be trying to invest as little as they can up here but when you've got 10 buses on lease you've probably pushed it a bit too far. There's plenty old and weird buses ie. B9TL E400's which are finished down there I'm sure they could replace.
Can't see much more investment than what they've got personally for any route unless it involves free handouts, as it probably doesn't look good if the local councils are offering you cash and you outright refuse it. It's just fuelling fire for Kim's vendetta against you (rightfully or wrongly).