(30 Apr 2014, 5:13 pm)Andreos Constantopolous wrote I don't know the 17 route too well, but apart from a few places on North Tyneside, the entire area is pretty much flat and undemanding.
Either way, there has to be a better alternative than the option they have taken.
The B10s replacing the MPD's on the Blaydon - Wardley route was obviously for a reason (not just for additional capacity), so to replace them with a less powerful and less reliable vehicle seems very short sighted.
There aren't really any demanding places on the 17 route at all. Might struggle with Archer Street, but it's not too bad. The only other problem would be the Rosehill Bank from what I know, but the 17 route avoids that. Could be used on the 9 possibly? 5151-54 could then transfer to Saltmeadows, then 5247-49 and 5274 temporarily used on the 17.