(10 Sep 2022, 11:19 am)Andreos1 wrote Would numbers on the 10 grow as a result of these vehicles being allocated to the route?
Part of me wonders if the under-investment in the less popular routes, leads to that downward spiral/lack of passengers/demand we keep seeing and if there was a switch in mindset (ie investment in those less popular routes in an effort to grow it), it may reverse that cycle.
Yeah definitely imo and even if it didn't grow the route, it might not let passengers numbers drop at least. I know I say I don't care about USB's etc but I do care about scruffy buses which haven't been refurbished or been touched in years, added with longer routes, more expensive than driving etc there's not much incentive to use them really.
The 10 imo badly needs better vehicles or at least the B9's refurbished properly - talking Cobalt and Coast not replacing the seat covers especially for the length of some journeys. GNE should do a MAX type refurbishment which Arriva done and get shot of the blue interior on everything that's staying for at least a couple of years. It's a horrid, cold and outdated interior imo. Transdev are great at making old buses like B7's look much newer like the 36 and CityZap examples which both got done to high standard.
(10 Sep 2022, 11:40 am)Rob44 wrote 100% this. If the electric buses are much much much cheaper to run why not stick them on routes like the 28/28b/29 and other when the savings on fuel would offset the loses made buy the diesel buses and i'm sure if people in kibblesworth, ouston etc saw them, received a leaflet drop about them or had all 8 of them parked in the SoHo tavern car park this would increase patronage 10 fold!
Electric buses can't run longer routes as their battery capacity are crap so can't do longer without needing a charge midday or taking a risk - they're a bit of a gimmick atm and not sure their the long term answer (that's Hydrogen imo). Not sure whether they could do the 28 etc but could imagine it would be quite tight mileage wise believe they can do 200 mile or so.