(23 Jan 2026, 1:46 pm)Kuyoyo wrote The whole point of the new E400MMCs going to Whitby is to displace the now-aged B9TLs away from the highly demanding work they've been used on since new on the X93/X94 corridor (don't forget the X94 boards spend most of their day running between Whitby and Scarborough - the part with probably the most demanding of the hills along the corridor) plus given they are only 5 years younger than 7609/10, they'll soon be too old for the P&R contract in any case, hence the reason for 7594/5 being earmarked for that if Arriva retain it. I understand from a source within Arriva, the B9s may already have a new home lined up under the original plans.

I also have been told why the new E400MMCs for Ashington are intended to replace 7541-52 - those have smaller fuel tanks than the newer examples, which means they have issues when being used on certain Morpeth Express boards as a result (not due to the fuel tank but Stockton once had something similar happening when 1512 was based at the depot as the Sapphire spare - it almost always ended up on the same board, which happened to be the first bus out of the depot and the last bus into the depot, and was known to be running on fumes when it got back in).

Are the B9 leaving the North East or going to another depot

(23 Jan 2026, 1:46 pm)Kuyoyo wrote The whole point of the new E400MMCs going to Whitby is to displace the now-aged B9TLs away from the highly demanding work they've been used on since new on the X93/X94 corridor (don't forget the X94 boards spend most of their day running between Whitby and Scarborough - the part with probably the most demanding of the hills along the corridor) plus given they are only 5 years younger than 7609/10, they'll soon be too old for the P&R contract in any case, hence the reason for 7594/5 being earmarked for that if Arriva retain it. I understand from a source within Arriva, the B9s may already have a new home lined up under the original plans.

I also have been told why the new E400MMCs for Ashington are intended to replace 7541-52 - those have smaller fuel tanks than the newer examples, which means they have issues when being used on certain Morpeth Express boards as a result (not due to the fuel tank but Stockton once had something similar happening when 1512 was based at the depot as the Sapphire spare - it almost always ended up on the same board, which happened to be the first bus out of the depot and the last bus into the depot, and was known to be running on fumes when it got back in).

Aye I get that, but surely they'd be good enough for 2/6 boards on the X93/X94 if you switched them around daily. Arguably no worse than the ex B7TL's from London which coped well enough for a couple year anyway?

But I get why aswell, obviously the ideal solution is to deal with the chronic shortage of reasonable deckers across the North East, but can't really expect them to renew the whole fleet overnight. Hopefully 2027 will see a bigger push to sort out Blyth and Ashington who are both desperate for more really.

Unsure what you could do with 7401-6 and 7522-7533 as they really badly need to be retired to pottering around estates on a city route but there's not really anything in the North East.

(23 Jan 2026, 1:46 pm)Kuyoyo wrote I also have been told why the new E400MMCs for Ashington are intended to replace 7541-52 - those have smaller fuel tanks than the newer examples, which means they have issues when being used on certain Morpeth Express boards as a result (not due to the fuel tank but Stockton once had something similar happening when 1512 was based at the depot as the Sapphire spare - it almost always ended up on the same board, which happened to be the first bus out of the depot and the last bus into the depot, and was known to be running on fumes when it got back in).

Genuinely mental reasoning. They’re capable of doing most X18 boards, it was only ever the couple of double Berwick X15 boards that they (occasionally) got swapped off.

Even outside of those, there are 6 X20 boards and 20 X21/35 and X22 boards they could be used on. A batch of 12 buses, 26 boards which they are completely suitable for. 

Crucially, they’re all more than capable of actually doing the express work - the 8 Streetlites, 09/10/61-plate Pulsars, and the 14/64/15-plate E400s are not. 

Moving an entire batch of buses away because of (at most) a couple of boards which they ‘may’ struggle with is completely illogical - especially when there are far, far larger issues.

(23 Jan 2026, 9:08 pm)PH - BQA wrote Crucially, they’re all more than capable of actually doing the express work - 09/10/61-plate Pulsars. 

Must say I do think they should've been kept but more for these. It's absolutely bonkers that there's currently 31 Pulsars in Northumbria for a realistic PVR of 11 (5x 57/57A, 5x X9, 1x 553)

Like imo in an ideal world it should be something like

1602 - 1606 | 57/57A (the shorter vehicles are also inappropiate at Darlington and would benefit some of the tight streets especially Tillmouth Avenue)
1574 - 1577 | 1
1578 - 1581 | 2
1607 / 1582 / 1583 | Ashington Spares

1499 | 553
1500 - 1505 | X9 / Spare

Every other single Pulsar out and no singles anywhere near the expresses, yet it appears there's been an order put in to displace 25 deckers...

(23 Jan 2026, 9:32 pm)Storx wrote Must say I do think they should've been kept but more for these. It's absolutely bonkers that there's currently 31 Pulsars in Northumbria for a realistic PVR of 11 (5x 57/57A, 5x X9, 1x 553)

Absolutely agree. It’s a clear indication to me that, for all the noise, the new management are just as incompetent at those that went before. 

The amount of standing load Pulsars and Streetlites I’ve observed leaving Newcastle recently is too many to list. 

Getting rid of significantly younger and more capable buses ahead of things which barely make it through a day of service is beyond idiotic. 

The current media attention on their operation in SE Northumberland is starting to expose them for the morons they are. I’ve been pointing it out for ages on here - the engineering issues, the horrific decision making, the lack of accountability.

(23 Jan 2026, 10:26 pm)PH - BQA wrote Absolutely agree. It’s a clear indication to me that, for all the noise, the new management are just as incompetent at those that went before. 

The amount of standing load Pulsars and Streetlites I’ve observed leaving Newcastle recently is too many to list. 

Getting rid of significantly younger and more capable buses ahead of things which barely make it through a day of service is beyond idiotic. 

The current media attention on their operation in SE Northumberland is starting to expose them for the morons they are. I’ve been pointing it out for ages on here - the engineering issues, the horrific decision making, the lack of accountability.

Yeah I don't want to be overcritical of the management but can't disagree. It's not like it's something totally impossible needing investment as what's coming in could do it easily ie.

12x New E400MMC's (Ashington), 12x Pulsar Out
13x New E400MMC's (Blyth), 7601-7615 Withdrawn
6x 16 Plate E400MMC Durham to Darlington, 6x Streetlite to Ashington, 6 Pulsar Out
1512/1513 and 1579/80 straight swap, 2 Pulsar Out
14x New Electrics, 12 Oldest E400 Withdrawn, 2 Pulsar Out

61 Plate Pulsars to Darlington to displace oldest Pulsars with a future bid in to upgrade the likes of the 1, 5, 7, X66 and X67 which deserve new buses.

Would make a massive massive difference that imo and you've got the DB300's out as planned. It's not like they can exactly come out with x needs buses more because Ashington is absolutely chronic because of the fleet in recent months.

(23 Jan 2026, 1:46 pm)Kuyoyo wrote The whole point of the new E400MMCs going to Whitby is to displace the now-aged B9TLs away from the highly demanding work they've been used on since new on the X93/X94 corridor (don't forget the X94 boards spend most of their day running between Whitby and Scarborough - the part with probably the most demanding of the hills along the corridor) plus given they are only 5 years younger than 7609/10, they'll soon be too old for the P&R contract in any case, hence the reason for 7594/5 being earmarked for that if Arriva retain it. I understand from a source within Arriva, the B9s may already have a new home lined up under the original plans.

I also have been told why the new E400MMCs for Ashington are intended to replace 7541-52 - those have smaller fuel tanks than the newer examples, which means they have issues when being used on certain Morpeth Express boards as a result (not due to the fuel tank but Stockton once had something similar happening when 1512 was based at the depot as the Sapphire spare - it almost always ended up on the same board, which happened to be the first bus out of the depot and the last bus into the depot, and was known to be running on fumes when it got back in).

Interesting when you point these things out. Maybe shows there is more logic in their plans than we all know, and there are some necessities in the moves they're making which we aren't privy to the information on.

(24 Jan 2026, 10:18 am)Shrek wrote Interesting when you point these things out. Maybe shows there is more logic in their plans than we all know, and there are some necessities in the moves they're making which we aren't privy to the information on.

It's only an issue if the buses are actually meant to be on those routes though? The buses were purchased for the X21/X22 and there's been nothing else sent to Ashington, bar a whole load of Pulsar's which are not appropiate, to replace them off there.

Surely the discussion should be, we don't have enough deckers for the X14/X15/X18 and are having to take allocations off the X21/X22 which in turn means we are having overcrowding issues with saloons on peak runs? Therefore it's unreliable saloons leaving, especially the 4 which were traded for the E400MMC's which were sent to Whitby which arguably led to the shortages in the first place...

Will also be interesting over the years to see whether or not ADL will modify the E400MMC to include the new 7 speed Voith gearbox like the Wright Ultroliner.

Seen a video of one of GNE's examples, and looks very comfortable on the Washington Highway with plenty of steam left!