(4 hours ago)Arriva7446 wrote I think its 14 they are getting. Yes for routes 43/44/45, though will be interesting to see if they do anything else as the current interworking patterns involve some journeys going from these routes onto a Blyth route, especially at the start and end of day.

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The front design of these deckers reminds me of the East Lancs Lolyne body, which is abit outdated design wise today, but I am excited anyway for Blyth's first brand new bus since 2013! (The 10 x Volvo B5LH were 13 reg, but they left for Yorkshire in 2018, so the last buses that were ordered new for Blyth which remain here are 1501 - 5 I think, new August 2012. Everything newer has been elsewhere first.)

Think it'll also be unusual for the 43/44/45 to have brand new buses! When I first got into buses about 10 year ago they were mainly operated by the DAF ALX400's and then from 2017 the 57 plate Enviro 400's plus 1 x 14 reg 7522 which was always a special treat as it felt modern, and actually has heating that works unlike the 57 plates which I remember even in 2018 Beast From The East a lot of those buses didn't have working heating then either.

I know they were trialled on the 306/308, unsure if it was a success, but those two services need a bit of love, i remember a time where the 308 was a flagship route and saw quite a bit of investment, now it appears like its been left to rot, 306 has always been a funny one though in regards to investment