(05 Jan 2024, 7:31 pm)toward6931 wrote If CAZ wasn't an issue, I would have been content for some of the ALX400s that are now getting disposed of throughout the group to finish their working lives up here either on the contracts or covering for newer vehicles that are on contracts provided there was a plan in place for Thier replacement within a 2 year period.
I hate to say it but judging by the current cycles of procurement SNE will probably not receive any new brand new deckers for 2 or 3 years now. Even if for an extremely unlikely example they received cascaded 2014 MMCs from Manchester those vehicle's are ten years old this year
The issue I have was that SC South west has had a higher percentage of investment in recent years compared to SNE, but outside of tourist season the profits are quite low. I'm not against other divisions receiving investment but as pointed out when SNE is a cash cow subsidising other divisions investment that gets my goat abit
I see an E200 on the 38 and think exactly the same. It is the highest profit making division besides Manchester so seems completely wrong it has such an aging fleet. If anything the new buses should have been extra not replacing things.
Then I see the 18 a double decker carrying 10 people if lucky. I know what the contract states and maybe 1/2 journeys require them not the entire day but it’s a complete waste of double deckers especially at the weekend when an E200 would be ideal. That won’t be helping the situation.