(30 Jul 2014, 4:39 pm)Robert wrote I think these spares will come from new buses been purchased for other routes producing free buses to replace the older vehicles. It's also possible to think that if 80 vehicles are going to be purchased this year, then approximately 74 vehicles are going to get displaced meaning 74 of those 98 buses that need to be withdrawn will have replacements, providing some don't go off onto other services. That leaves just 22 buses that need to be withdrawn which can be replaced in next years investment.
In my opinion, I see this as been the most logical way of doing things and probably won't cost as much.
Remember that there are other vehicles which are over-due withdrawal that this year's investment will contribute to. There are 28 vehicles which should have been withdrawn in 2013 that are still yet to be withdrawn. Also remember that this year's investment will contribute to the withdrawal of vehicles which were due to be withdrawn this year - a total of 23 vehicles. As we know, services such as the X66 are rumoured to be in-line for investment this year - this perhaps means that some of the vehicles due for withdrawal this year won't actually be withdrawn this year. I certainly can't see (all of) the dual-door Volvo B10BLEs being withdrawn this year.
Although I hate to say this, I personally don't see 80 vehicles being ordered this year. Why? When dropping hints on the forum, none of our GNE 'insiders' have actually suggested 80 vehicles will be ordered. They've suggested a few brand names, but none of these have ever added up to 80 vehicles. I know we got this figure from GNE's QCS response, but it's entirely possible that this could have changed, in further discussions with Nexus.
With all of this in mind, I am incredibly doubtful that work will begin on the withdrawal of vehicles which are due to come off next year (i.e. earlier than their "shell life") - when, as we know, GNE seems to be holding onto vehicles for a little longer than originally anticipated.