Click photo to enlarge
Passengers set to leave on a double-decker bus as part of
First City Tours yesterday. Citibus, which operates the
tour, is looking for another double-decker bus. Photo by
Gerard O'Brien.
Demand dictates Dunedin needs a new double-decker bus.
Citibus general manager Tony Collins has confirmed the
company is "actively looking" for a new bus to replace its
1976 Bristol double-decker, which was retired in March last
year.
The company, which is owned by the Dunedin City Council
through Dunedin City Holdings, has been operating tours with
only one double-decker bus, a 1981 Bristol, during the busy
cruise-ship season and the situation was far from ideal, he
said.
With more tours held during the cruise-ship season, another
bus was required to cope with demand and to provide back-up
in the event of any mechanical problems, Mr Collins said.
He was confident the company could source a new bus from
either Ireland or England for between $160,000 and $200,000.
Because of tougher regulations introduced last year, the
company was after a 1990s model, which would be required to
be refitted with a Euro 4 diesel engine.
The buses, which had been operating since the mid-1990s, were
used on the First City Tours trips around Dunedin and for
private charters.
However, no charters were being run until a replacement bus
was found, he said.
Last year, First City Tours recorded 16% more passengers than
the previous year.
hamish.mcneilly@odt.co.nz
Shame to see the Bristols go.
Although not as distinctive as the iconic London Routemaster double decker, the early 70’s design, Gardner engined Bristol VR type double deck buses that we’ve been using are still distinctly of British character, part of the classic Dunedin streetscape, and now a classic in UK. A shame we couldn’t just re-engine them if new engine types are required.
The low revving Gardner they have is a reliable and trusty plodder of a power plant, but a bit smokey. The famous London Routemasters were re-engined a few years ago, (Iveco I think) with modern low emission engines, then sadly and short-sightedly they got taken out of service for what are basically square fishbowls on wheels which lack chracter, or ones designed with a set square, as 90s ones are.
I guess we’ll get the Volvo Olympian, the main 90’s double deck bus there, nothing to look at.
A half open top bus would be nice. They are popular in UK during summer, (done a few myself, really nice!) though I understand bureaucracy here has stomped on that too. I guess though, the days people could sit out there without being blown away in frigid winds or rained on wouldn't justify it.