Motoring Discussion > Open top buses Miscellaneous
Thread Author: tyrednemotional Replies: 15
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 Wed 11 Dec 24 21:25 
 Open top buses - tyrednemotional
Fine for the scenic areas of Britain on the few dry and sunny days of summer, but pity the poor commuters in the Lake District who have to put up with them on their services all year round.

The downstairs of the two I caught today were heated like furnaces, whereas the open top upstairs......

(The paths walked between the out and back buses were still well iced over even by mid afternoon).

The number of passengers was such that if you were, heaven forbid, at the back of the queue you were going to have to freeze your butt off upstairs.

At least it was dry - I'm mildly surprised they haven't come up with a cabriolet style arrangement!
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 Wed 11 Dec 24 21:27 
 Open top buses - Bobby
One question.

Why??
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 Thu 12 Dec 24 08:32 
 Open top buses - Zero
Why? Seemples. They are a tourist goldmine in Summer, and they cant afford two seasonal bus fleets.
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 Thu 12 Dec 24 12:42 
 Open top buses - Rudedog
When it rains doesn't the water gush down the stairs to the lower deck and soak the punters?
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 Thu 12 Dec 24 14:07 
 Open top buses - Manatee
They need convertibles. Removable hardtops maybe.
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 Thu 12 Dec 24 14:29 
 Open top buses - Stroudie
In Bournemouth and Poole some of the open top buses on the Coaster routes have removable roofs.
When they are in place you can see brackets on the edges of the roof which I think are used to lift them off.
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 Thu 12 Dec 24 14:55 
 Open top buses - tyrednemotional
Whilst you assume that someone might have done the business case, I'm not convinced of the "tourist goldmine" aspect. The routes that are plied are (at least partially) commuter ones, and have numerous tourist destinations en-route (where people were alighting, even in the cold). I suspect footfall (bumfall?) would be little if any less if they were conventional double deckers.

There's little doubt that, having procured them (they're relatively new in bus terms) Stagecoach need to "sweat the assets".

Problem is, this is the Lakes, where the geography that gives it its name didn't result from long spells of hot, dry weather. The number of days on which it would be pleasurable to sit out in the open must be very much in the minority (and certainly so October to April). I'd go with conventional buses every time.

There is no sign of being able to attach temporary roofing. The upper deck floor is "guttered" either side to cope with the rain, and the front part does have a semi-conventional roof section which is largely to cover the stairwell, but allows for around 10 drier (but still draughty) upstairs seats.

Whilst seemingly designated for the 599 Bowness to Grasmere Service, we saw at least 2 running the 555 Kendal to Lancaster (a blowtorch would be required to disembark passengers from that journey ;-) )

scenicbuses.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Stagecoach_Lakes_599.jpg
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 Thu 12 Dec 24 15:07 
 Open top buses - Terry
I think posters may have ignored the British love of the great outdoors.

The Lake District is full of folk who like nothing more than a gentle walk up a steep hill with drizzle and occasional snow flurries for company.

A bus with no roof is luxury indeed - providing it has an engine and wheels they get all of the experience with none of the effort.
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 Sun 15 Dec 24 15:15 
 Open top buses - Timeonmyhands
Glasgow has an open top bus, today.
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 Sun 15 Dec 24 16:38 
 Open top buses - tyrednemotional
...and not for the first time, apparently.
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 Sun 15 Dec 24 21:29 
 Open top buses - Bobby
Not making excuses for the driver.

But two bridges one after the other with different heights. Got through the first but not the second.
maps.app.goo.gl/4T8mZgFwbpMQK7Ra8
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 Sun 15 Dec 24 21:52 
 Open top buses - tyrednemotional
Should've engaged a low(er) gear...
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 Mon 16 Dec 24 09:01 
 Open top buses - smokie
I suppose scooping out a bit more road on the 2nd one would be expensive.
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 Mon 16 Dec 24 11:28 
 Open top buses - Manatee
Good grief, how do you not notice that?

Distraction/stress/overload I suppose.
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 Thu 19 Dec 24 17:51 
 Open top buses - tyrednemotional
It's obviously started a trend.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c20e3z7vg07o

Camel and eye of needle job, that one! (My motorhome might just fit, but I'd be wary)
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 Mon 16 Dec 24 09:26 
 Open top buses - Falkirk Bairn
No roof - less chance of catching Covid, Flu or RSV on the top deck - mind you you might catch pneumonia
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