(14 Nov 2023, 9:39 pm)RobinHood wrote Modern buses are rattling to bits within weeks of hitting the road nowadays. You are right, with the correct level of TLC any bus should reach 20+ years, most operators will work to around 15-18 years life expectancy. After this time, vehicle is normally fully depreciated.

Some will live on, but a major until failure will usually mean withdrawal.

Some operators use fully depreciated vehicles on school work, as the prices are usually very close and it can be the difference in winning or not.

I agree with that, even Northumbrias's newest E400sMMCs have their squeaks, and I don't think any low floor bus has been re-bodied, whereas that was not unheard of for old high floor designs. from a layman's view, I guess the new generation of busses need more maintenance due their cheaper (and lighter) bodywork, and the fact the chassis are more complex and closer to the ground. Having said that, the East Lancs European and Cityzern Scania bodywork went downhill almost from new. 

(14 Nov 2023, 10:07 pm)Storx wrote I'm assuming the change under DB, is more to the point that someone has realised there's absolutely tonnes of buses coming up in the next 3 years and to put it simply it's kicking the rather large can down the road.

Interesting to see what the DD plans, as I can't think of many routes in Northumbria with decker's on which don't need the deckers at all.

There is probably only a handful Northumbria routes that don't warrant a double decker,, perhaps exclusively Ashington's 1, 2, 57/57a, 434, and some 35 runs.