(14 Mar 2015, 7:46 pm)northern156 wrote Not so odd them, Dan - a MAN E300 is often used if one of the two ADLs is out of service (inspection/service, MOT, repairs etc) on the 685 - today I noticed 24124, 24118 is another popular one to venture across to Newcastle.
I think because of this (also due to the MANs being notoriously unreliable) some E200s cover the 79 and 179 to Annan and Dumfries respectively.
Word on the street is that the E200s aren't worth having for Carlisle due to the low passenger numbers so a new fleet of Solo SRs are being ordered with the E200s being cascaded elsewhere (I would guess Lillyhall). That's just something I've heard though, timescales and validity I do not know.
Yeah, I've seen them a few times! Equivalent of a red spare turning up on a Go North East service back here in my neck of the woods, as there's no spare vehicles of the same spec.
Interesting. I'm sure I heard that management at Stagecoach Cumbria & North Lancs were originally looking at the feasibility of buying double deckers for two of the town services (61/62?) with a decrease in frequency to increase the profitability of the routes, but they decided to stick with how things operated with the Darts and opted for Enviro200s instead. 42 Solo SRs have been ordered as part of Stagecoach UK's 2015/16 Order, so it's entirely possible I guess!