(Yesterday, 10:49 am)Superman wrote I won’t go into specifics, but since the closure of Newcastle, the Northumbria business has become one of the most profitable areas in all of UKB on a fully loaded margin basis, second only to Merseyside.

Durham County still has its challenges, but there are some significant changes coming next year to address that. 

Confirmed this week also is the first part of the 2026 diesel order.

31 x E400MMC (Ashington, Blyth and Redcar to benefit) 
18 x E200MMC (Currently planned all to go to Stockton, but this might change)

Blyth, Darlington and Durham also still due their electrics (total of 49) and a second diesel order is expected for more Evoras (hence the split in approval due to manufacturer).

That's 98 new vehicles already approved with further to come. Almost a third of the fleet to be renewed in 2026.

100+ buses within one financial year is exceptionally good going. 

Rough maths:

19x E400s (57/58/09-plates)
15x DB300s (59-plates) 
14x E200s (72-plates)
81x Pulsars (09/59/10-plates)

Seem to be the most likely candidates (or have been confirmed as) for replacement (E200s to another division?). Given the 61-plate Pulsars are in a hell of a state (particularly the MX61 batch), I wonder if some of the repainted/refurbished ex-Merseyside 09/59/10-plates may stay longer in place of the interurban examples.

Out of interest, are the Evoras only for Tees Valley or is there a large number of those due also?