(10 Jun 2014, 5:09 am)Dan wrote Operators can sell it as a perk, because it can be a perk.

Think of your light-weight Optare Versa. Does the job but it's quite cheap (in terms of price and the quality) - usually purchased simply because other assets need to be replaced.

Now think of your heavy-weight Wi-Fi enabled (nobody is allowed to use this as an opportunity to complain about Wi-Fi ) Mercedes Citaro. Has a good ride quality and the price is considerably higher for the company.

I rest my case.

It can be a perk yes, but anything can be a perk with the correct spin on it.

Not denying that a Citaro is more luxurious than a Versa, or that it's a bigger investment, but we (as in enthusiasts) aren't the ones needing to be convinced here.

Convincing your average Joe public that a bus is anything other than a bus is another challenge. People recognise a mini bus, a bus, and a double decker. They don't recognise a Citaro is a Citaro, or a Solar is a Solar.

Same with trains though isn't it? How many folk that use East Coast would recognise that it's a HST or 91 that's pulled in?