(Yesterday, 8:54 pm)Superman wrote The case has already been put forward. New double decker vehicles are coming for Ashington in 2026, along with 14 new electric vehicles for Blyth, 14 electric vehicles for Durham, 21 electric vehicles for Darlington and another two dozen Volvo Evoras for Tees Valley.

Arriva Yorkshire also due to receive 50 new vehicles by Christmas, the same senior management team making all of these calls (and arguably the Yorkshire fleet needs the investment much more to be honest).

They can't change the world overnight.

I am also aware that the senior engineering personnel have also been shown the door already due to the failures in the north specifically. The Head of Engineering and the Engineering Manager both not seen for a while and the former already advertising the need for a new job on linkedin.

A business left to rot by DB, investment now starting you flow, but it all takes time.

I think the problem as well, is that modern deckers are getting the same expectations put on to them as their Cummins L10 / Gardner / Volvo D10 grandparents did - but now faced with tighter emission controls and city focussed gearing.

Even the B9TLs whilst decent, haven't got the legs / durability the Volvo Olympian had on longer distance work.

GNE although didn't always get it right, did eventually go down the route of 1x spare for every 7 or 8 new vehicles purchased in their golden era when they ordered heavily around 2013-14. 

I think Arriva need to be doing the same IMO.

Also, if Arriva do go down the ADL route, will ADL be offering the 7 speed Voith DIWA.8 NXT?

I know Wrightbus are offering this on the Ultroliner powered by Cummins - but if Volvo came to their senses and produced a new two axile B8TL with this gearbox, I reckon they'd be as good as the Leyland Olympian / MCW Metrobus!