(28 Mar 2014, 4:18 pm)Robert wrote I agree but don't most elderly people sit downstairs? Been completely honest I don't think it is any difference between any other route that uses deckers other than its an express. Beside this though, it is always nice to let everybody choose where they sit and not to confine them to a certain area (this case been the lower deck) because they are physically unable to climb the stairs because of their age.
Deckers would be good for the route apart from the low bridge on the Centrelink, they would be able to keep the PVR as 4 like it is now, keep the same frequency and allow more people to be seated (53 seats in the current artics with the average seating in deckers at about 70) which would be better for the service as there would be less crowding although due to been able to stand on the lower deck the total capacity will either be marginally under, fractionally under or just over the total capacity of 100 for the current artics.
At peak times however, buses been unable to serve the Centrelink because of the low bridge can turn out to be a problem as we all know how busy Askew Road gets at peak times without those road works that have recently been carried out. This would cause massive delays to services unless another route for peak times was devised that wouldn't affect the service too much if it takes longer. I suppose its better to have a mostly on time service than a 20 minute delayed one!
Yes, which is why double deckers aren't particularly suitable. There's not many seats downstairs, so once they're full, the elderly would be forced to climb the stairs to get a seat. Also, you'll often find (particularly at Gateshead) that once a bus is fully loaded, it leaves. If the final passenger has boarded and is trying to get up a flight of stairs, the driver shouldn't really be pulling out.
Do we actually know that the X66 is going to be upgraded in frequency when upgraded, or is that mere speculation? I'd certainly suggest between certain hours of the day that the increase in frequency would be unjustifiable.