(12 Nov 2014, 9:59 pm)RGR756V wrote Aside from that, I would also suggest that the Volvo Olympian is much better suited to the route than a E400, in terms of robustness, speed and the extra capacity - obviously in the near future with DDA compliancy rules this won't happen but for the time being, I think as enthusiasts we should be thankful of a chance of some top haulage in what- in my opinion- is the last of the proper double deck buses made
Like I said before, I'm really not complaining as an enthusiast... As a customer who also has disabled family members, it irritates me slightly at the decision which has been made (but hey ho, I'm not in a position to see this changed).
Those of you who regularly follow the "Go North East - Rare & Odd Workings" thread will know I've been quite negative about Stanley in the past for the same reason! Let's not forget that it costs the company money to offer a complementary taxi service should a disabled user be unable to use a service due to a high floor vehicle being allocated...
(12 Nov 2014, 10:02 pm)tyresmoke wrote I'm not sure - the spare Sapphire's see use on other services when not required on their own services. They cannot be stood idle
They can - but it would seem local management has chosen against it (which I didn't realise). Hate to provoke further discussion by discussing other operators in the region, but whilst branded spare vehicles are a growing thing of the past with Go North East (admittedly for the reason that it's difficult to justify having a bus which potentially has a value of £200,000 sitting doing nothing all day), they still do exist...
Go North East's X7 and Stagecoach North East's X34 are not too dissimilar, in the sense that both services have a PVR of three. Go North East has a branded spare vehicle which rarely sees use on other services but regularly isn't required, meaning that it's either sat at Peterlee Depot or Deptford Depot all day unless required. Go North East manages to justify having a four year old heavy-weight single decker vehicle spare a lot, but Stagecoach North East cannot manage to have a seven year old vehicle sitting spare?
Volvo Olympians see higher associated running costs and the potential for higher costs due to complementary taxis being offered, yet Stagecoach cannot justify having an active spare vehicle in the fleet? Struggle to see the business sense, but maybe it's just me...