On The Buses II

I wrote an earlier blog on an industrial dispute between Bus Vannin and their drivers. I am forced to write an another blog about this Isle of Man Government transport entity as they are threatening to get some bendy buses.

There's several things about this turn of events that I'm surprised about. Firstly they really should sort out the labour dispute with the drivers before they start on anything else. From the minister at the Dept of Culture, Communities and Leisure downwards this department have continually shown themselves unable to master one issue never mind several.

The main thing is though, does the Isle of Man need or want bendy buses? They were trailed in 2009 and although the minister at the time and the senior civil servants championing these buses claimed it was a success the public felt the opposite. Our roads, even the main ones, are narrow I fail to see how it will be practical to operate these vehicles on 10 or 12 island routes as the minister claims. As can be seen from this BBC graphic

 the capacity is 149 passengers. I've travelled on quite a few IOM buses over the years where I've been the only passenger so I'm not sure why these extra seats are needed. Someone in that department has an agenda that they need these buses. I think it's down to boys toys as was seen with the desire to buy a new locomotive for the heritage steam railway they run.

Then there's the cost. Minister Cregeen reckons he can pick these beauts up at £40k a pop while selling a few spare double deckers at up to £25k each. If second hand buses are so cheap why did Bus Vannin spend upwards of £100k each on new singledeck (non bendy) buses only a few years ago.

Like the wages this is a shambles but one we the tax payer will end up paying for.

I'm not against articulated transport and travelled on it frequently in Las Vegas.

A bendy bus in happier times.

More details on these buses can be found at this BBC site although I note it's all town and no countryside.