(01 Sep 2023, 8:37 am)tvd wrote The lack of money argument doesn't really cut it with me, Arriva are a big company who choose to not order new buses until they absolutely have to. I think a better option would be to order a few each year, so it's a more gradual process, but it's up to them.
The X93/X94 is a money maker, it maybe seasonal but the season is long. There's only 4 months 'off' season, and you could always transfer spare double deckers to use on something like the X66 for more capacity for Christmas shoppers, for example.
But it could certainly do with new vehicles, and also some investment in the 63 and X4.
Is it even that much of a money maker though? I'd be surprised if it's anywhere near the top of the list. Yes it gets good loads but it's the same passengers for over an hour, some two hours and outside the Summer isn't particularly busy at all.
Let's say each bus averaged 60 PAX per journey (which it probably roughly is) at £7 it's only £420 over 2 hours and the Diesel costs must be through the roof bombing across the Moors. It's the same with the X9/X10 with GNE (which had their frequency cut).
Compared to say the X21 at Ashington which might have 10 PAX from Newbiggin to Ashington, 10 to Bedlington, 30 through to Newcastle, 15 in between somewhere and can do 2 trips in the same time roughly. That's 130 PAX in the same at roughly lets say £4.50 it's £585 and the Diesel costs won't be anywhere near as high.