(15 Sep 2026, 9:56 pm)PH - BQA wrote The 14/64/15-plate E400s are in a shocking state, and if we're honest have been neglected since about 2021. Obviously the common theme here is that they (mostly) have been based out of Ashington depot, whereas the DB300s (replying to later posts in this too) have all been Blyth based.
The only 2 E400s which seem dependable are 7524/5, which were decent at Ashington and have been at Blyth since Jesmond closed. The entire 64-plate batch have been ruined, 7553 is barely able to do anything beyond a 1 (got used as a replacement on an X18 today which went as expected), and 7554 is barely able to leave the depot.
I'd counter that the Pulsars are reliable now, they have gone through horrific spells at Ashington too. Again though, the question there is whether that is due to engineering or age of the buses.
The B9s are fine at Ashington if used on the 35 as they should be. The issue, as you point out, is that the bean counters have taken away the rest of the decent stock so you've only got 19 buses for 23 X18/20 duties. They've then got, as far as I can tell, 23 saloons for 12 booked saloon duties. So some of those will always end up on decker work, but actually in reality even more will because of how bad those E400s are and so they're instead being used on the 1/57. Truly awful fleet planning, and whoever allowed the 17/72-plates to leave the region without suitable replacement needs put on a PIP.
Aye, to be fair have to question whether it is Ashington or it's the buses mind I noticed Blyth got dumped with 7527 and 7530 the other week and both died so who knows. They really are awful though. Not sure if it's a blip but 7403 has been a bit of an issue so far aswell. Seems to have had issues again today which means there's dropped boards on the 57/57A (again).
I know some probably say I'm critical but the 57/57A which is the route I use sometimes has been diabolical for years, bar the period when it had the brand new E200MMC's but they were took away like everything else and it's just been a s**tstorm ever since whether it's been Solos (they really were awful), Pulsars, E400's or now B9's being a joke on it. Gateshead Taxis get slated on here but the 19, in comparison, is the polar opposite in terms of reliability to the stage I've noticed half of Seghill just use it now for Cramlington (and I don't blame them really).
(16 Sep 2026, 11:11 am)Kuyoyo wrote And I'd be very surprised if anything from the Merseyside fleet ends up making its way up here. More likely to end up with some of the Yorkshire vehicles when Dewsbury and Heckmondwike go Weaver in the spring - plenty of E400MMCs being freed up from Heckmondwike.
Ah didn't realise Heckmondwike was part of the Dewsbury tendering (knew that was gone). Learnt something new today tbf.