On 02/04/2014 20:55, Graeme Wall wrote:
On 02/04/2014 20:34, Mizter T wrote:
A query on behalf of an acquaintance.

They're interested in the possibility of hiring a Routemaster to
transport people from A-B, not a great distance but the most sensible
route would involve a stretch on a motorway.

If a Routemaster is going to be hired, it has to have an open-platform,
not a door.

The obvious question is whether any bus hire operation would be happy
carrying passengers on an open-platformed Routemaster along a motorway?
Said passengers would not (yet) be inebriated, and could be trusted to
obey instructions to stay away from the stairs.

A rope or bar across the platform would be acceptable - like on this bus
(though AFAICS it's passenger-less):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/29520195@N08/8677999177

BTW, this is very much a preliminary inquiry - no research has yet been
done - thanks for any pointers though!

The obvious thing to do would be to contact the operators directly. They
will know the answers, the rest of us will just be guessing. I believe
Ensign have at least one for hire, no connection, I photographed it in
Manchester.

As anecdata, I don't recall seeing an open platform bus on the motorway
with passengers on board.

Also, most Routemasters will be hard pushed to go much more than 40mph,
so I'd be concerned about taking them on a motorway, even when empty.
They were designed for use in London, and are geared as such. The only
ones whioch went faster were the RMC type and the ones used by BA from
the West London Checkin to Heathrow.
--
Tciao for Now!

John.