(06 Jan 2026, 5:31 pm)Malarkey wrote The first Voltra Wright Electroliner (6821/MA75 CUJ) has been delivered to Riverside Depot - https://flickr.com/photos/c-newman-photo...1792356885

How long before its off route on the 21 or covering on the Q3

Really find it weird how they've kept Voltra but looks like they're going to drop X Lines. Say what you will about X Lines, that livery certainly looks better than Voltra.

(06 Jan 2026, 11:24 pm)Storx wrote I don't know why, but personally I'm not that confident that the E400MMC's will be leaving Riverside now.

Now that the new Ultraliners have been sent to Consett which comes across as a last ditch change, I have a feeling those 4 spare and the ones on the X5/X15 might be the X21 allocation instead as it needs something since there's not enough of the 70 Plates for the 56 from Washington alone. 

There's also the big question of the B5TL's at Deptford and E200MMC's at Consett/Riverside aswell which are both routeless pretty much atm.

The only thing to bear in mind is the low bridge issue with the X30s / X70s meaning that if Riverside got 8x E400MMC, Consett would be relying on single deckers as spares.

However......they 'could' make the X70/X73 standalone with a PVR of 5x and have the X71 as a 'there and back' standalone as a PVR of 3 which would reduce the number of low height deckers needed. Wouldn't be as efficient on the driving hours, but would mean most of the X70/X71/X73 boards get relieved in Consett as opposed to a some ending up in Stanley countering it out.

Unless......the other plan is to make some X30/X31/X32 and X70/X71/X73 boards single deck - with the busier boards using deckers and quieter ones using singles.

21st January at utilita arena 11.30am-1.30pm..Launch Day for the NEW ELECTRIC vehicles.

(Yesterday, 1:43 pm)Retro Nero wrote 21st January at utilita arena 11.30am-1.30pm..Launch Day for the NEW ELECTRIC vehicles.

Depending on which way they decide to come from Riverside Depot it looks like they'll be entering Utilitia Arena via either Swing Bridge, Skinnerburn Road, Dunn Street, Red Rose Street or Redheugh Bridge, Scotswood Road, William Armstrong Drive, Monarch Road, Skinnerburn Road, Dunn Street and Red Rose Street onto the Car Park to avoid the Railway Bridges.