(30 Jan 2014, 12:55 am)gtomlinson wrote Non Hybrid B9's? They obviously didn't like the one they had on trial from EYMS (unless of course a rather nice wad of cash from the taxpayer encouraged them to go ahem 'green')
I acknowledge the Angel is a demanding route, slow and fast sections, constant stop start, idling in traffic, heavy loads etc and that no bus is perfect but I don't think GNE have EVER got it right with the Angel aside pre-Angel when the Presidents ran the 21
At the time the Solars worked well on the 21 - 24 Hour Service branding - but traffic has obviously massively increased and Durham Road has lost a lot of buses for the sake of the Angel and 'simplified routes'
Maybe it's time for a re-jig of routes, stopping places and services along Durham Road - rather than another taxpayer purchase of green buses, which only ensure three of the vehicles (see what I did there) stuck in the queues of traffic, aren't belching out fumes?
The hybrids haven't grown wings and don't make the traffic disappear.
Road improvements, attractive pricing and reliable alternatives to the car are amongst the only things that can help the traffic disappear.
However, as for new deckers, why not try the Optare decker with the Merc engine?