(02 Sep 2021, 7:45 am)Keeiajs wrote But that doesn't mean they can get a new buses every 3-4 years. X5/X15 isn't even that busy. Tbh I never see the X45/46/47 & X70/71/30/31 particularly busy. There are other routes in other areas which are busy which are running buses which are 9 years old. Not barely 10 month old.
There is a sort of point here. I don’t think people are suggesting that every route deserves brand new vehicles but if you’re constantly only investing new money into a very small group of services, it’s not encouraging people to use other parts of the network. And if new vehicles help bring in passengers, then adding brand new buses to some of the more modest routes might promote growth. I know all routes benefit from cascades but still brand new vs three years of wear and tear is still a gap. I’m not necessarily saying GNE are guilty of this, a quick scan back to me shows that they have invested in a variety of routes over the past few years. But I sort of agree with the point that the X-Lines network in Consett doesn’t need new vehicles for the next four years, buying new vehicles wouldn’t upgrade the service that much compared to what they have, plus extra cost repainting the current vehicles etc. Seems a waste. I know there’s a funding bid for electric vehicles, which perhaps put a different slant on things - but I do agree on a general note that investing in like for like buses on the same very selective routes every 3 years doesn’t help promote a wider bus network.