Double-deck bus study

Press, 15 February 1984, Page 5

Double-deck bus study

An in-depth investigation into importing two used double-decker buses from Britain will be made by the Christchurch Transport Board. The board’s operations committee yesterday asked for the study in spite of an earlier report by the general manager, Mr M. G. Taylor, saying it would not be a good idea. Mr I. R. Rivers, who had suggested using the buses on trial, said the idea had the support of the Canterbury Promotion Council and Christchurch businesses. He did not think the vehicles had reached the end of their economic life. Users of similar buses in Australia were satisfied with their performance. Mr D. G. Cox opposed the purchase of the buses. He said they would use up to 20 per cent more fuel than the board’s other buses. There would also be problems in cleaning and fuelling them. The board’s chairman, Mr P. V. Neary, was also, against buying the buses. Large organisations often found a “one off” piece of equipment became a loss,

where a small operator could make it successful. “We could find ourselves in a bit of trouble if we get the double-decker buses,” he said. The Ferrymead Historic park had had a doubledecker bus for several years and it seemed to have little novelty value. Mr Newton Dodge agreed that the buses would not save the board money but he did not think they would cost much either. Their novelty value would attract people. They would be attractive for school trips and other charter services. People would rather hire a double-decker bus than pay the same price for a conventional bus, he said.