Neil Williams wrote to uk.transport.london on Wed, 29 Jun 2005:

On Wed, 29 Jun 2005 23:39:04 +0100, Colin McKenzie
wrote:

And it wouldn't take an enormous change in the relative costs of fuel
and labour for RMs to be more economical per passenger mile than heavy
modern buses.

Perhaps - but in such circumstances couldn't a modern, lightweight OPO
bus be designed? Crew operation isn't really relevant to that
question, surely?

In many ways it is, since dwell times at stops are a great deal shorter,
and also, a conductor can help someone on to a bus (say, someone with
poor sight, or who can walk, but with difficulty) in a way that a driver
cannot.
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 23 May 2005