The Arriva Decker Influx

[Phil]

The Arriva Decker Influx
It is quite refreshing to hear about Arriva ordering several batches of double deckers for routes that currently see single deck operation. According to what I have read, it has been confirmed that 26 Enviro400's are on order for St Helens depot (presumably for routes 10/10A), 16 Enviro400's on order for Bootle depot (routes 52/52A) and it is rumoured that a double decker order for Green Lane is on the cards.

Not that long ago, (barring the cross-river services and route 699) there were only THREE corridors that saw daily 100% decker operation, these being the 60, 82 and 86 corridors. Now, if we were to add to the services that have already been recently upgraded to decker operation to the orders that have or could be made, the list of Arriva double decker routes in Liverpool could read as follows:

(again, barring cross-rivers and the 699)
10/10A
15
26/27 (match days)
52/52A
56
60
61
79/79D
81/81A
82
86/86A/D
(Have I missed any?)

What are everyone's thoughts as to why this is happening? Could it be something more than the obvious fact that some routes are seeing chronic overcrowding? Previous mismanagement? More money being pumped in by the Germans?

Whatever the case, it is great to see Arriva investing so heavily in the type of buses Liverpool has so desperately needed for many years.