(13 Aug 2026, 12:25 pm)Storx wrote I'm sure they'll just have gaps on service when they withdraw the reliable Pulsars and have multiple deckers VOR.
These and the 14/64 Plate E400's should be nowhere near Ashington nor Arriva North East in general.
They belong on a city route which does 10 mph all day but there's no routes in the North East which can do that which aren't already getting investment (2/64).
I don't bet but I'm pretty confident the B9TL's will be as useful as a shed. The 35 isn't even that of an easy route imo.
imo the whole the Arriva Northumbria South East Northumberland / North Tyneside (what's left of it) network is a disgrace. Riddled with cancellations, shite buses and just negligence. The quicker they disappear the better imo.
To be fair, I think the B9TLs will be fine on the 35.
GNE's 6043-48 spent 5 years doing the X9/X10, then the intenstive 10/10A/10B cycles as well as still regularly covering for gutless hairdryer B5TLs that couldn't hack the A19. Then they did the 47 until recently.
I don't think E400 / E400MMCs have been bad vehicles, but perhaps the Alnwick & Berwick routes have been a step too far for them.
Even with the Cummins StreetDeck which is still unproven, there's a clear gap for a bi-axile heavy duty decker that can either cover the extra-urban routes (X14/X15/X18/X20/X30) or be run into the ground over 15-20 years on interurban routes (Blyth 'X' routes, X21/X22)