(12 Aug 2023, 3:34 pm)Unber43 wrote I would say GNE, in the past two/three years have been nothing but cuts, but this seems to be turning around, brand new routes on comerical risk, frequency improvments, then reductions and more reductions and more reducations, but then they seems to be on the uprising of increased frequency services.
There are still a few which needs to return to the pre-reduced frequency. However I do agree on the lack of investments, I mean I saw Dan talking about dedicated school buses, but the E400 end up all over like literally everywhere.
But I do agree GNEs fleet is massively aging and something hast to be done urgently about it
Honestly, I don't really think it needs to be new buses. There's other way around it aswell, there's plenty buses which have never had a refurbishment bar sticking some new moquette in or in the case of some Streetlite's and Versa's haven't been touched in over 13 year now, some of which are on flagship routes (60 in particular).
The Coast Road B9's are an example of what you can do without buying a new fleet and is as good as new.
It's the similar with the ex London Buses. Arriva's ex London buses all had a full refurbishment and some of them you couldn't tell the difference between some of the newer stuff, especially the B7's. These new buses are coming in GoAhead London interior and it just screams old to anyone.
Must admit it does help having a uniform interior across the business rather than 20 different livery's even in some areas, especially up here, having numerous interiors, so swapping vehicles around isn't a problem as much.