(09 Dec 2022, 9:29 pm)Unber43 wrote I know this has been brought up recently and I think it needs its own thread, so I went to Newcastle today and got 6334 or 6335 (can't remember), and an E400, and tbh the state of the buses were awful, tables sticky (it was like the second route the bus had been on for that day), penis drawn on "cream" leather, and 6334 or 6335 that a disgrace, the headrests they were black, i've dropped some screenshots about how they looked.
Aswell heating seems to be a massive issue on the entire fleet, I understand it takes time to warm up however on 7 of the buses I went on today I couldn't feel the heat on 6 of them.
Thats why you never put nice buses on school routes.
There's clearly issues.
How much was preventative and how much wasn't is probably where this conversation needs to go.
Older buses have been purchased or allocated to the scholars and contracted routes for a reason. Except they're not always being allocated. Maintenance issues? Cost issues? Budgeting or cash flow reasons?
To fulfil the contracts, it's looking like these higher spec vehicles are being sent out - with the end result, being this. And additional repair bills.
I'd argue that under the previous regime, too much money was spent on titivations and improving passenger perception through those titivations.
Now? It looks like the budget for everything is being slashed. Or from the outside in that appears to be the case.