(07 Oct 2019, 9:42 am)JP6004 wrote

The vehicle type will have little effect on their use in the future. It depends on previous exposure to public transport.

Any children who have always been driven round by mammy and daddy will probably never step on a bus unless they have no other option.

Anyway I think a big point that everyone is missing. Prior to 2011 there was almost a decade long gap in the order of new DD (excluding the original Geminis 05/06 reg). Since 2011 new or ex-dealer DD have been acquired every financial year. However a handful have gone to upgrading single deck services to DD (10, 56, 309/310), which has lead to the generally younger single deck age as opposed to DD. No doubt with continued DD investment, it wont be too far in the future where the B9s go into scholars work.

Lets not forget also, a few years ago when GNE had very little school contracts, great swaithes of older DD were withdrawn. Obviously they have had to build up their DD for the new scholars work. But even if GNE were as rich as a Russian Oligarch and could afford to buy new DD for scholars every year, do you think that the short timescale from tenders being awarded to start of new school year is a bit short notice? From order to delivery, do you think they would manage to have them for service at start of new term?

I think if the contracts weren't awarded on a yearly basis then, there may be definite scope for improving scholars, however we have seen how things can change year to year. However surely anything to reduce fleet age should be welcome? Or would we much rather the Vykings to still be kicking round in another 5 years?

Hence referring to the inflexibility of some scholars...

I'd hazard a guess that anyone spending 5/7 years on a school bus that has a tired interior and is prone to condensation, rattling and mildew will be put off public transport to some extent.

There's a reason GNE are increasingly adapting their pricing and marketing towards the younger generations and I would argue that the on-board WiFi, sockets etc are certainly something that is fitted with younger people in mind.

It goes without saying that younger people are the next generation of car drivers.

Surely you would want to give them a taste of something nicer than a 15 year old decker? I'm not sure anyone has said they need to buy a brand new vehicle for a short-term contract either. 

Time and time again we hear about 'workhorses' and 'reliability', 'not missing a beat' or being 'lovely to drive'. 

Thats brill. Lovely.

The drivers aren't the ones sitting paying the fares and being inconvenienced in dragging out a passport for the privilege.