(23 Nov 2014, 2:47 pm)DaveyBowyer wrote Exactly Dan! The VDL (formerly DAF) DB250 followed by the Volvo B9TL have been the two best low floor double deck chassis' made and far better than the DB300 and E400. They might be gas guzzlers but they're far more reliable than the latter 2 mentioned for interurban and long distance express work. Don't know much about the Scania N230 or the new N250 though. If Arriva had've followed in the footsteps of GNE and ordered:

- 15x Sapphire B9TLs for the X21 / X22
- 5x MAX B9TLs for the X18
- 5x MAX B9TL's for the X15
- 7453 - 56 refurbished to MAX and kept as spares for the X15 / X18 / X21 / X22.

They would've had a very strong fleet at Ashington depot with 7514 - 7521 being used for the X14 / 20 and X20. And the comment a while back about First Eastern Counties and E400s replacing the B9TLs currently being used on their X1; the E400s have had quite a few teething issues and the only reason First are shifting to ADL is because of the better fuel economy. I'm sorry but for long distance routes, fuel economy comes second and power comes first.

Davey, whilst I can see where you are coming from, the last sentence would not compute in the brain of any bus company finance director.

Companies are always looking to reduce costs and as fuel is likely one of the highest costs, a small percentage improvement will be worth tens of thousands over a year.

So, unfortunately, a company will always choose efficiency unless in very extreme circumstances.