(21 Feb 2014, 9:18 pm)Tom wrote A long time away, but this is what I think the 2015 orders will be...
4 X Optare Versa - ''Sunderland Connect'', freeing up the current Solos for use on the 5, replacing 8242-6.
20 X Mercedes Citaro - ''Coaster'' and ''Cobalt Connect'', freeing up 5243-6/5251-2/5261-72, with 5243-6 for use on the ''Lambton Worm''(replacing 8303-6 for use on the ''East Durham'' services 202/208/265, replacing various MPD's), 5251-2 for use on the 71 (replacing 2 X B10BLE), 5261-65 for use on the Waggonway (replacing 5 X Wright Solar to replace various B7TL/B10BLE's), 5266-71 for the X25 (replacing B10BLE's/ELC's) and 5272 spare at Chester-le-Street replacing a ELC.
7 X Unknown for ''Tyne Tees Xpress'' - Freeing up 3963/6043-8 for use on the ''Pronto'' (replacing B7TL vehicles)
8 X Optare Versa for ''LOOP'' - Freeing up 5219-26 (replacing various buses)
33 X Optare Solo SR - Replacing all ''Tynedale Links'' (555-559 and 8293), ''North Tyne Links'' (548-551/553-554/562/566-569) and ''East Durham'' (535-546/560/564-565/573-574/618-619) - One spare at each depot. East Durham would also use Optare Versa on busier journeys.
The newer MPD's (603-606/618-9) would replace spare MPD's at Riverside/Deptford:
603-6 would replace 542/544/561 at Deptford, 603/4 destined for the 99, 605/6 would be a spare. 618/9 would transfer to Riverside for the S1 (Merit 8266 would replace a B10BLE, helping to reach the target) and 27X/40A, replacing 547.
Hmm.. I'd definitely say the Coaster has a good change but if the 27 gets upgraded to deckers, they might end up on the Coaster.