On Oct 19, 10:17*pm, "Chris Read" wrote:
"Paul Corfield" wrote:
Mr Souter returns to the London Bus Market with the purchase of ELBG
for roundly £59m having originally sold it to Macquarie for £263m a
number of years ago.
http://www.stagecoachgroup.com/scg/i...tem?id=3751051
Note the interesting remarks about new bus purchases and non cascading
of London vehicles to the rest of Stagecoach group.

Yes, liked that.

In essence - 'we don't wish to waste nearly-new buses on the provinces'.

Do Arriva use matching leases in London? Outside the capital, they appear to
operate a relatively ancient fleet.

Actually I don't think your conclusion about nearly new buses is
correct. London spec buses are considered to be very difficult to
sell because most of the features (dual doors, straight staircases,
ramps at the centre doors, fire supression kit) operators do not want.
Therefore I think what Stagecoach are saying is that there will be no
cascades and no purchases for London which would find their way
outside. Any new vehicles for London will be leased with the risk of
re-use being with the leasing company. Stagecoach will still buy new
buses for its provincial fleets but to Stagecoach's spec not the TfL
one.

Arriva - well they tend to run their buses into the ground wherever.
Many of their London tenders are won on the basis of retaining
existing vehicles but giving them a refurbishment. To be fair this
fits more with TfL's requirements these days as it is cheaper than
buying new. After two or three terms in London then buses head outside
- as witnessed with DAF double decks heading for the North West from
London.

--
Paul C
via Google