(08 Nov 2026, 2:32 pm)L469 YVK wrote It's still quite a statement for an Cummins Ultroliner being ordered for such work though. Especially when a Daimler powered Ultroliner or standard E400MMC would be enough.

To be fair, MTL & Arriva did have a fair number of Cummins & Volvo D10 powered Palatine II's operating in the area.

Quite a lot of the NECA area work would benefit from a heavy duty decker:

Northumberland
* X14/X15/X16/X28/X20/X30
* X21/X22
* 10/10A/10B/12
* 685 (depending how this goes as cross border)

Gateshead & Washington
* X1

County Durham
* X10
* X21
* X30/X31/X32
* X45 & 47
* X70/X71/X72/X73

That alone would be quite a sizeable order. Then add on other operators and routes such as the X93/X94, Transdev's Coastliner.

Yeah don't disagree about other areas.

Btw I don't know, but are the Cummins units actually any more expensive? It's what the E400 has anyway, but maybe at a different rating - but I believe both ratings are available on the Streetdeck. I know Mercedes don't have a particular good rating, or didn't awhile back, for after sales.