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Go-ahead feels pain of the bendy bus ban
Evening Standard23 Apr 2009
LONDON buses group Go-Ahead is to take a multi-million-pound hit when its controversial bendy buses are withdrawn under the orders of the Mayor this summer.
Go-Ahead chief executive Keith Ludeman admitted the group will lose out financially when it replaces its fleet of 31 bendies on the Red Arrow 507 and 521 routes out of Waterloo to Victoria and London Bridge.
The bendies are being withdrawn after a chequered seven-year history which has included bus fires and culminated in the election pledge of Boris Johnson to have them removed from the roads of London.
“The cost to us will be many millions because of the residual values on buses which we bought in 2002 but which have little or no use outside of the capital,” said Ludeman.
Go-Ahead will receive an 18% uplift in mileage-based revenues when it replaces the bendies with 53 single-deckers but Ludeman said that will not make up for the write-offs.
It also reported falling passenger growth numbers on its Southern and Southeastern train services.
Reader views (1)
I took particular pleasure in the phrase " little or no use outside the capital ". Unlike Routemasters that are lusted after and used the World over. Actually 8 years would seem like a decent lifespan for a modern bus and can't they be sold for airport transfer use. Taking a hundred passengers a hundred yards could be their forte.
- Jack Spratt, Richmond, England, 23/04/2009 15:56
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