Slimline LT plans
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DON'S TRANSPORT'S forthcoming bus trials will help decide t buses will replace the ageing Routemaster fleet, its bus man g director, Dr David Quarmby told CM this week, writes NOEL .IER.
present policy of buying : 1 MCW Metrobuses and ind Titan double-deckers 3ontinue until the entire LT iler Reetline fleet has been [ced in 1985.
-service evaluation has 3Ied that the Titan is margimore expensive to mainthan the Metrobus and this ideration, together with a iium price for dual sourcing according to Dr Quarmby, toed LT not to buy more Tiafter 1984.
e trials with three Alexaniodied Volvo Ailsas with air ension, three Duple Metsecad one-door Dennis Domirs, three Leyland Olym5, and three Mark 2 Metros start next year. One MeJS will have a Maxwell gearand one an air-cooled Deutz le, the other a Cummins :nine. (CM, July 30).
Quarmby accepts that LT'S operating costs make it vulPie to possible new compel. He says that the bus ating cost per mile, which is ficantly higher than that of : PTEs and National Bus ipany operators is due ily to the large percentage rew operation in London, ugh maintainance costs. would not comment on the re of LT's two major haul works at Chiswick and nham but he did confirm these are the subject of a strategic study aimed at deciding the most cost-effective way of maintaining the fleet.
He has been involved in presentations to the staff, which stress the importance of reducing costs, and the thinking behind the LT three-year plan already rejected by the Greater London Council, The threat of LT losing business to other operators tendering to run parts of the network could be overcome by reducing costs and this could open exciting possibilities.
At present, it is cheaper for LT to hire buses and drivers for activities like the Round London Sightseeing Tour. Dr Quarmby feels that now staff shortages in Central London garages have been overcome by the reduced demand for stage carriage services, a more competitive LT bus business could develop new tourist services and even interPTE express services. The combination of LT and the PTEs' marketing clout and terminal facilities gives the idea real possibilities.
Dr Quarmby pointed to the success of the Heathrow Airbus services, which were operating profitably in a competitive environment to show what LT operating staff and management could do with the aid of strong marketing back-up.