(18 Jun 2025, 1:05 pm)WestDurhamSwift wrote 3/4 of the Enviros are currently VOR, the X21 Streetdecks seem to be the stop gap.The StreetDecks should be nowhere near the X10....backup should be Crusader or TVT B9TLs!
Really need something more sutiable, surely cost wise the amount of issues with buses that run on that route its wise to invest.
As I'e said before, I know GNE could re-shuffle the X30/X70 interworkings to reduce the low height PVR (basically allowing x8 StreetDeck and x8 E400MMC to be swapped giving Riverside flexibility) but I doubt GNE would trust them on some of the steep climbs around Derwentside!
Think only long term solution would be a solid batch of new UltroLiners or E400MMC for the X10 & X21 with x2 spares. Both routes carry good loads and if they rotated them around properly to spread the wear & tear out a bit like what Arriva do at Ashington, it would give GNE options to cascade them after 5 years...or possibly longer if the rotation helped.