(16 Nov 2025, 11:31 am)Swiny1 wrote I agree i think the B9 s are great on the 56. Sometimes a case of be careful what you wish for. In respect of new buses. If they do get new buses need to be something decent to replace them

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Thinking about GNE's native B9TLs......they've done a similar length of time on primarily 'frontline' work in comparison to the original Go Coastline S*** FVK/OFT and Northumbria P*** CCU Palatines.......which is pretty good and some examples especially the 56 & Cobalts still have plenty of useful life left in them - some examples that haven't been constantly ragged along the Tyne Valley or up / down the A19 could easily do 15-20 years frontline work without too many major issues.

IMO - the 56 would be a better candidate for future EV bids rather than 5 year old StreetDecks.

The ideal routes for cascading mid-life StreetDecks down are the 51/52/93/94, 27, 57, 307/309.

I was chatting with a Percy Main driver and their preference would be for the Cobalt B9TLs to do the 301 with the StreetDecks used on the 307/309 instead - given the length of the 301 and the hilly terrain on the Western part of the route too.