Bus operators that keep replacing perfectly good vehicles with new vehicles every few years.

[busenthusiast]

Lochs Motor Transport are a very small bus company in the Outer Hebrides who have a PVR of just one vehicle only. They have only ever owned one bus at a time. They don't need any spare buses as they just use one of their many coaches when their bus isn't available. They are a very small company

• For many years they operated using G964 CLV (a MB 709D) until in 2009 when they got rid of G964 CLV (a MB 709D) and replaced it with YH09 KHL (a MB 709D).

• Then in 2010 they got rid of YH09 KHL (a MB 709D) and replaced it with YX60 DXR (an ADL E200).

• Then in 2014 they got rid of YX60 DXR (an ADL E200) and replaced it with YX64 VPG (an ADL E200).

• Then in 2017 they got rid of YX64 VPG (an ADL E200) and replaced it with YX17 NRL (an ADL E200).

• Now i hear that at the end of 2019 they will get rid of YX17 NRL (an ADL E200) and replace it with a brand new ADL E200 MMC bus.

This seems absolutely crazy for a bus company to keep replacing perfectly good buses after just three of four years in service again and again. Especially considering that three of them (soon to be four) have been the exact same vehicle (an ADL E200) with the same length and the same specifications and the same interior. It seems like such a waste of money to keep selling perfectly good vehicles that are only a few years old and then buying new ones. They must have a lot of spare money to waste.

I am curious is anyone aware of any other bus operators anywhere in the UK like this? Are there any others that keep replacing perfectly good bus vehicles every few years or so? Is this very common for bus operators to do? What do you think of this?

 

[LordCreed]

Do they own or lease the vehicle? If the latter, then would explain the frequent upgrades.

 

[RustySpoons]

As above, it'll probably be leased. They'll pay a fixed amount every month and get a brand new DDA complaint bus every three years.

It wouldn't be cost effective to buy a new E200 then sell it to replace it after only three years. Depreciation alone would end up putting them out of business!

 

[WHL Spotter]

It really depends on the mileage it clocks up annually, it may be high mileage and the repairs may out way the a new bus every couple of years, or if the work is contract service work, they work it in the price to replace the bus every couple of years.

 

[cnjb8]

Yourbus (kind of) got rid of 11-plate Citaro's in 2015 and 12-plate StreetLites in 2017/18.

 

[175mph]

It might sound like a waste, but I'd be grateful that whatever the operator, they aren't replacing them with older, second hand buses.

 

[bussnapperwm]

Yourbus (kind of) got rid of 11-plate Citaro's in 2015 and 12-plate StreetLites in 2017/18.

Didnt the Citaros end up with Rotala at Preston Bus

 

[SCH117X]

The leasing issue can lead to some fleet oddities whereby newer vehicles are disposed of as the lease ends but older vehicles which are owned not leased remain in the fleet. Transdev Blazefield being an example with elderly B10BLEs retained while newer vehicles go off lease.

 

[randyrippley]

when do the manufacturers warranties run out? It can make sense to get rid of kit before the spares bills start coming in

 

[Andyh82]

It might be in the contract with the lease.

I know when TLC Travel won the Bradford tenders they introduced a brand new fleet of E200s, after a few years they were replaced by a second identical fleet of the same type of bus. Apparently this was the deal with the manufacturer.

 

[cnjb8]

Didnt the Citaros end up with Rotala at Preston Bus

Yep. Yourbus are looking to replace the rest of their Citaro's.