(02 Sep 2021, 5:43 pm)Washingtonian wrote That's fair enough and I can see where you are all coming from, particularly about new buses being replaced with much older ones not long after receiving an upgrade. I do think however it would be nice to see new buses that are bought being placed on a route and it lasting on that route for a decent period of time. I think the duration the buses have generally lasted on the 4 and X1 are about right, with upgrades every 10 years or so. That;s fair enough for the core routes really. Suppose that's just the way I am really as I get attached to certain buses and find it a bit sad when they move on. I was a bit disappointed when they moved the B9s on from the X1 as I always loved a ride on those.
I think it's more about downgrading rather than age. Like I live up Blyth way and we have the Gemini's and tbh they're perfectly fine and I have no problems with them. Now if you gave us brand new buses with tables which have a nicer interior etc. I wouldn't be too happy to then get the Gemini's back a year later while the other Blyth bus routes keep there brand new buses because they want to move them to Ashington for the X21/X22 instead while I still pay the same price as the other punters with their brand new buses (which would be actually more here because of Coastliner and Cramlington discounts).
Like in your case you didn't want the B9's to go but next year you probably wouldn't want them back either when you've had brand new Streetdecks for the past 2 year.
Also whoever mentioned the old Metrobuses/Olympians in the 00's they were mid 80's buses if I'm right so no older than the 03/04 plate Omnidekkas running around now.