When is a Bus an "Old Bus" and what to do with it

[richw]

The fact is that on front line services, most vehicles will be retired from those duties after no more than 7 years. They will then be cascaded onto second tier services and then perhaps onto a more general pool of lower margin services, spares, schools etc.

Come to Cornwall we have 20 year old buses (K reg Olympian, seems to get the longest routes!) from 70-80 mile round trip routes.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Come to Cornwall we have 20 year old buses (K reg Olympian, seems to get the longest routes!) from 70-80 mile round trip routes.

Hence use of the word "most". However, think about it. Those are mainly K-LAE Olyms. They were new to Bristol for the 48/49 (I think) but were then replaced and sent to Yorkshire and then to Cornwall when fully depreciated for lower margin services?

In fact, how many deckers do Cornwall have that aren't second hand?

 

[swifty]

Come to Cornwall we have 20 year old buses (K reg Olympian, seems to get the longest routes!) from 70-80 mile round trip routes.

And it's was the same under Western National!

First has bought 59 new vehicles for Devon & Cornwall between 2005 and 2007, how many of those are still left?

 

[richw]

Hence use of the word "most". However, think about it. Those are mainly K-LAE Olyms. They were new to Bristol for the 48/49 (I think) but were then replaced and sent to Yorkshire and then to Cornwall when fully depreciated for lower margin services?

In fact, how many deckers do Cornwall have that aren't second hand?

We've got some K***ORLs which have been in D+C since new, they aren't second hand, they are old though!

We will have some brand new deckers come April 2014 though, currently on order for Truro P+R

 

[swifty]

In fact, how many deckers do Cornwall have that aren't second hand?

None, that we're new to Cornwall. However FDC have 27 that aren't second hand, 3 of which are not low floor.

 

[starrymarkb]

Lifted from the South Devon Bus War thread...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/capuchinoking/10489449415/

Which do you think the average passenger would prefer if they didn't have a First/Stagecoach pass already? The Dirty and Battered 20 year old Olympian or the Brand new and clean Gold spec Scania?

 

[richw]

Lifted from the South Devon Bus War thread...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/capuchinoking/10489449415/

Which do you think the average passenger would prefer if they didn't have a First/Stagecoach pass already? The Dirty and Battered 20 year old Olympian or the Brand new and clean Gold spec Scania?

I think the average passenger will look at the fare, if these are the same then I would imagine the gold Scania. I note the photo owner commented on Flickr it was an even split of passengers going for first and stagecoach at this stop, so perhaps not as obvious choice as suggested

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I think the average passenger will look at the fare, if these are the same then I would imagine the gold Scania. I note the photo owner commented on Flickr it was an even split of passengers going for first and stagecoach at this stop, so perhaps not as obvious choice as suggested

May well be a reflection of customers who have First passes?
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None, that we're new to Cornwall. However FDC have 27 that aren't second hand, 3 of which are not low floor.

Exactly, though you might (if you're being pedantic) argue that Torpoint's Tridents were new to Cornwall

However, the 3 x 55 plate Tridents that were delivered for the Newquay to Falmouth service were soon reallocated, and these were the first new deckers for Cornwall since 1981.

So until next year, that's 3 deckers in 33 years so yes, fair to say that Cornwall does rely on cascades. Also, the nature of tying in schools work with other service work will mean that ageing deckers will be working all day.

 

[Polo Mint]

I thought First Manchester had some sheds in its fleet until I went to Devon and was shocked at the state of their vehicles.

I consider any bus that is R reg or older as an old bus, but it depends where you live. People in more rural areas may be used to having older buses.

 

[richw]

May well be a reflection of customers who have First passes?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
However, the 3 x 55 plate Tridents that were delivered for the Newquay to Falmouth service were soon reallocated, and these were the first new deckers for Cornwall since 1981.

There were some A reg Olympians new to Cornwall which would have been 1983/4 if an A reg.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

There were some A reg Olympians new to Cornwall which would have been 1983/4 if an A reg.

Sorry but the 1984 A750-6VAF were Plymouth for city services in NBC Citybus livery and then the X80 and even NatEx work. It was LFJ-W VRs in 1981.