(24 May 2026, 11:49 am)L469 YVK wrote I wonder how GNE would've reacted to Derwentside, if WrightBus was stable and they didn't make the E400MMC order for the X1 (which got swapped with the X1 getting the heavily delayed StreetDecks and Consett getting E400MMC).

GNE only got lucky being able to make the changes they did in Derwentside due to the coincidence of the original X1 low height E400MMC order.....and the subsequent X30/X31/X70/X71/X72 shambles in Sept 2021!

On another note, the X10 and X21 have been neglected by GNE especially the latter.

Other than the E400MMC on the X10 which are fine WITH suitable spare backups.....the rest of the vehicles allocated have been absolute basket cases with tinpot engines that should be nowhere near long distance work!

At the time.....the 56 & 309/310 should've benefited from StreetDecks in 2019 with the 'then' relatively new B9TLs refurbished and allocated on the Durham & Derwentside services.

I would have to add the X45 to the list of routes you mentioned in the shambles as it was around that time or might of been the year after where the X45 was interworking with the X30 which caused the ADL Enviro400MMC or Single Decker allocation.

I do think MG decided to do a bad trade in my opionion with the Exchange of the Red Kite Dealer Stock Gemini 2's to East Yorkshire and us getting the ex demonstrator Enviro 400MMCs and Volvo B5TLs which I think if we kept the Gemini 2s and did the big refurbishment that EY did to them the X5/X15 would of been perfectly fine and a very nice upgrade to the route at the time but of course we landed with Streetdecks onto the route which got removed because of the Clean Air Zone coming into play which meant the X5/X15 had to suffer with the B5LHs.

I think the 56 should of benefited from the Cobalt&Coast style interior to give them a bit more life but obviously Covid happened and just got the simple Retrimming of the seats and USBs