Bantamzen
Established Member
If passengers didn't care about Wi-Fi and USB charging, bus companies wouldn't install it on their buses and use it as a promotional item.
It's mad, Arriva can install this stuff on a 15yo ex-London bus to get more passengers, but suddenly on a train it is too difficult and nobody cares anyway.
There are plenty of buses running around from various operators without USB & WiFi. And frankly bus WiFi is even more flaky when it does work on them!! As for USB, I rarely see anyone using it on the units working commuter services & buses that have it, so I'm just guessing it really isn't a massive priority. Personally I'd say getting the stock accessibility compliant for those passengers that need those mods is far more important. The WiFi & USB can go in whenever, preferably once all the new stock is rolled out to minimise any further disruption.
Serco drove the race to the bottom in the first place.
They were hamstrung by a "zero growth" franchise commitment! Which is part of my point, the lack of allowed investment over the decades is very much part of the problem. I'm afraid this long period of neglect by the DfT is going to take more than 2 or 3 years to sort out.