Had my first ride on one of Arriva's new Volvo B7s from London (7486). Minus the squeaks you can hear from downstairs, I'm quite impressed and it feels like the vehicle has had an engine overhaul. The vehicle is being pushed to its limits, and I feel the allocation of these vehicles will only work as a temporary measure which has been suggested previously. Fancy Bank near Guisborough was painful to endure and just about every person on the top deck commented on the fact they didn't think it was going to get up the bank. I wonder how well the vehicle will perform at Robin Hoods Bay!

The X93 timetable currently used is less than impressive, though. After ten minutes of loading in Middlesbrough, the vehicle did depart on-time, but it had to stop in the middle of the bus station for a few minutes for reasons unknown. The one I'm on now arrived into Guisborough 5 minutes late, and into Whitby about 7 minutes late. It has departed Whitby now, but was 13 minutes late.


EDIT: Christ, that hill at Robin Hood's Bay... There are no words for how slow he went up, and he even had to stop the bus for a break in the middle!