(23 Jul 2014, 5:18 pm)G-CPTN wrote City sightseeing = opentop double-decker (with a commentary I presume?) ie a premium service.
The current operators (Stagecoach?) wouldn't give up their monopoly lightly.
Edinburgh has several operators offering open-top city tours (at least there are several different tours but maybe one common operator).
I've not used the Newcastle one but the Edinburgh one was worth it (to me).
Mind you it was a few years ago and it was only £8 - now £14.
Hop on - hop off all day.
Fitting the Quaylinks with transparent roofs would be expensive, whereas hacking the roof off an old double decker is one way to extend its life (slowly trundling around a city centre and not worrying if you don't keep to schedule).
How 'green' are these tour-buses?
Not "Green" at all, sure there around 20 Years Old, Possibly Older.