BENDY buses will be reserved for use on school runs - with room for 50 children sitting and up to 100 standing - if they are brought into service in the Isle of Man next year.
Director of public transport Ian Longworth defended the proposed use of articulated buses, insisting they will make significant savings in operating costs in terms of staffing, maintenance and fuel efficiency – as well as being cheaper to buy.
He said: ‘We have not concluded a deal - we are awaiting for a political policy decision. We’ve got a very tight budget and are likely to have one again next year. The Minister says he wants to cut costs before charging more for services. This is a way of saving on buses and drivers.
‘We plan to use them, if we get a decision, on school routes where we currently provide two double deckers. Every single school has at least one route where two double deckers follow each other out. We will save a lot on operating costs in terms of maintenance, fuel costs and the number of drivers.’
There has been much public criticism following news the Department of Community, Culture and Leisure was looking again at introducing the articulated buses, first trialled in the island in 2009. Elsewhere, their arrival has not been warmly received – London Mayor Boris Johnson famously banishing them from the English capital.
Mr Longworth said it was not yet known how many will be ordered. He said they would be used only on school services. A policy decision will be made once new legislation is introduced to allow use of longer vehicles on our roads. A new trial will be held in January before any final decision is made, he confirmed.
There are three principal makes of articulated bus on the market – Scania, Volvo and Mercedes Citaro.
A typical Bus Vannin double decker has 70 seats with capacity for 19 standing while one of the 24 rigid single decker Citaros in service can taken 42 seated with 28 standing. A bendy-bus, however, can carry a maximum of 150 passengers, with between 49 and 56 seated and the rest standing.
The price of a new double decker is about £220,000 while an articulated bus costs around £210,000. However, Bus Vannin is considering buying second hand, at least initially. The £40,000 price of a second hand vehicle could be funded by the sale of two double deckers. Mr Longworth said the second hand vehicles on the market ranged from six to 10 years old.
He described the Mercedes Citaro as a ‘world-beating’ bus. He insisted there was ‘very little difference’ between the rigid and articulated Citaros in terms of ride quality and driving experience. As the front section is shorter than a rigid vehicle it is actually more manoeuvrable, he said.
Mr Longworth said there was positive feedback in the first trial about the ride quality. The only problem was the need to remove a gate post at Ramsey Grammar School as the gap was too small. He said should we get bendy-buses, staff numbers would be reduced through natural wastage.
The Department of Education said it supported, in principle, the introduction of ‘suitably-equipped bendy buses on appropriate school routes’ and would take a ‘keen interest’ in further and more rigorous trials.
Their introduction would ultimately be a political decision.