(06 Oct 2019, 6:45 pm)Adrian wrote

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.

I've just been looking at the fleet list, appreciate this source is not up to date however from a few workings out of what is already withdrawn in fleet there is around 140 vehicles in the fleet that are between 13 and 18 years old.

Around 100 of them are double deckers which are used on Scholars/Misc Works and as already pointed out used in front line service on occasion.

Quite crazy to think in 2019 that operators are still buying vehicles which are past the sell by date for Scholars whereas other operators elsewhere in the country such as Lothian Buses, Blackpool Transport and Nottingham City Transport as examples in the last few years and have heavily invested in their fleets in order to reduce fleet age. Iirc Blackpool Transport annouced earlier in the year there fleet will be replaced every 4 years, so any new vehicles they have purchased in 2019 will be with them until 2023.

I also had a look on Ensign's website earlier and Nottingham City Transport have sold 11 year old Omnidekka's to them following investment in their fleet. Lothian Buses in the last year have gotten rid of all of their Presidents, Omnidekka's along with their B7 Geminis following heavy investment in there fleet.

Absolutely agree with you Adrian that stricter regulations are needed going forward for what buses can be used on contracts such as Scholars/Misc Work, iirc the minimum requirement at the minute is Euro 4, lift that to Euro 5 and introduce as age restriction limit of 10 years old for buses which can be used on those contracts.