HTL Buses

[CX06 EBK (Administrator)]

RE: HTL Buses
Well as a consequence I am almost certain they do not get fined as previous experience at the company says the bus is fine to go on any route weather is passes a Merseytravel bus station or not. I think this is being overstated a little, the same company is using an X reg Renault Master as a last resort spare vehicle on a route that runs through a Merseytravel station twice an hour with no real issues from Merseytravel.

It's fine saying passengers would be bothered if it was breaking down due to its age but statistically it is much more reliable than the newer Optare Solos operated. There is a lot of assumption in these posts above that the age limit exists, which talking to various people at various companies doesn't seem to be the case other than a preference and that HTL are the only company "guilty" of using "non compliant" buses. If they were, maybe I could understand the big deal being made out the situation but as nearly every operator on Merseyside could be pulled down for a breach of contract somewhere (which is unproven as certain posters above will have never seen a tender document to confirm they were indeed breaching anything) I think the discussion has really run its course.

At the end of the day, aside from V980 XUB (and as I say, the last resort useage of X338 SKJ), all of HTLs buses really range from late 2004 (54 plate) to brand new from the factory buses. Same can't be said for all the local operators on Merseyside, some of who haven't bought new buses for quite some time.