(09 Sep 2014, 9:55 pm)G-CPTN wrote Has anyone actually researched whether double-deckers take longer to load/unload - and therefore negate the benefit of being able to move more people in a given schedule?
Especially as the current procedure seems to be to wait until passengers are seated (or at least 'stable') before driving off and 'remain seated until the bus stops'.
Whilst I accept that some double deckers have more seats than some single deckers, I believe that the total capacity (including standees) isn't necessarily much greater with the limit being the all-up weight - and the staircase reduces the number of seats possible on each deck.
Maybe it is time for three-axle single deckers (with steering third axles)?
Why would that be a barrier to purchasing Deckers? Every other route that has deckers seems to manage fine so i dont see why service 7 should be any different.