(06 Oct 2019, 3:30 pm)Dan wrote I wouldn't say it says a lot about the fleet, more so gives an indication of the type of services that the company operates. No operator could sustainably operate brand new buses on scholars services, which is predominantly what these buses will be allocated to.

These Scania OmniDekkas are replacing Volvo B7s which are between 2-4 years older (some of which are dual-door so not ideal for the frontline service work they invariably end up being allocated to, from time to time). I'd say that's an improvement - not just for passengers, but driving staff and engineering colleagues too. Plenty life in them yet (they drove all the way from Brighton to Consett at 60mph without a hitch!)

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I don't think anybody is suggesting brand new (or even nearly new for that matter), but these are neither. At 15 years old, they're merely survivors from the grasp of the Grim Reaper.

Its by no means just GNE using ancient buses on public sector contracts of course. There's plenty of schools contracts in Durham issued to operators using vehicles 20 years old and beyond. Hopefully with declaring a climate emergency lately, they and others will start to look at stipulating stricter minimum standards on vehicles used for public sector work.