Arriva North West - Southport Depot

[H101GEV (Administrator)]

RE: Arriva North West - Southport Depot
Had a ride on 2248 from Crossens into Southport today, and it really hit home just how much of a retrograde step these buses are compared with the Marshalls. The ride was awful and the interior distinctly battle worn. Southport have clearly taken care over their Marshall fleet down the years, keeping them clean, tidy and much better maintained than their counterparts at other depots.

Sadly, they've been dealt a poor hand with these X-HJAs, as the three I've now ridden have been dreadful. Only X-ANC 2239 was at least creditable in the ride department. The people of Southport (and everywhere else they operate) deserve better than this utter junk - age shouldn't be the be all and end all when replacing buses. Ultimately, these replacement Darts are only a year newer than the Marshalls, are infinitely worse to ride and have not had the money spent on refurbishing them.