Halton Transport

[Mayneway]

RE: Halton Transport

(03/03/2016 22:28)Quackdave Wrote:  Twelve out of the fourteen have definitely been done; until recently, two remained, 88 (MIG 8172) and 89 (MIG 8173). I haven't seen 88 for a few weeks, so not sure if that one may have gone off for refurbishment?


I agree that if they exist they should be consistently enforced, else it's not fair on potential operators who bid higher to cover the cost of newer vehicles, only to find themselves undercut by a company that then proceeds to ignore the rule.

However, personally I'm not convinced that they're justifiable even if they are consistently enforced. Essentially they're just a lazy proxy measure for the condition of a vehicle, because it's difficult to objectively define thresholds of "good condition" beyond the fundamentals of roadworthiness - we're talking things like rattling and general shabbiness. But whilst there is some correlation between a vehicle's age and its condition, it isn't a very reliable one - lackadaisical operators can allow vehicles to descend into a fairly dire state long before they reach the age of 15, whilst conscientious operators can keep vehicles in exemplary condition long past that age.

In a time where subsidies are at risk, specifying newer vehicles can only push up the price of contracts. I have no objection to my council tax being used to subsidise bus services for people who need them; but paying extra to provide newer buses seems like an unjustified luxury. A roadworthy bus that meets accessibility requirements should be sufficient.

I did think about age restrictions before posting my comment earlier today and I did wonder whether age restrictions could in theory push up the price operators are prepared to pay to run them and I came to the conclusion that the drivers wages and fuel bill would still be the same regardless of the age of a vehicle but I do think your right to a point.

While it could be argued that the younger the bus the more reliable it is surly it's more down to the operator who's operating them. You can have a small fleet of buses under 8 years old but if there not maintained then there's going to be issues - and there's been plenty of operators that on paper have had decent looking fleets if vehiches age wise but have struggled to conform reliability wise to running tenders due to vehiches constantly breaking down etc.