(11 hours ago)Malarkey wrote There is no chance your getting a Volvo B8R Plaxton Panther LE through some of the areas that the 685 serves particularly between Carlisle and Hexham having been on with an E200MMC (262989) this afternoon for full route from Carlisle to Newcastle.
I'd say a Volvo B8RLE MCV Evora at 12.9m with a Volvo D8K (350BHP) would be more suitable for both capacity and power.
imo they'd be better just using coaches like a lot of their routes in Scotland without the low floor. There's zero issues on any routes up there.
The luggage space etc would actually be useful really.
If you pulled the Throckley section (X82/684 does this) then it's pretty much limited express the whole route since most stops are in the middle of nowhere.