Double Decker

 

I know nothing about the bus market but it seems to be a hell of a lot of money for a busted arse old bus that's nearly as old as I am, it must have a bit of gold plating on the inside.

I think it is not your ordinary old bus. It is extremely well known over many years and maintained, registered and licenced as public transport. When you consider a new Landcruiser is going to cost you this much for personal transport it is not too bad for a money making business.

There is another double decker on FB for $250k ...so thats relatively cheap.

Cheap, depends how you look at it, $10 from ever person that walks through the door or even $20 you will need a constant line of people for two working lives to pay for it. Corporate may well pay for it with shareholders' investment and write it off on their tax, then me and you pay for it, it's still a lot of money for a busted arse old bus. The same deal applies to the new land cruiser the average joe pays extra to cover the tax write off for some half cooked business. Yes I know I have had a few land cruisers when working in the mines but you drive what you can get fixed in that game. 

Dunno about other states ,but in Qld you cant use a bus over 25 years old to carry passangers used to be a double decker around ,cant recall the make ,but it had a late model Gardner in it......Anyhoo,the owner thought it was exempt from the 25 year rule for some reason tht I forget ....but he wasnt.

I just had a read of the QLD Bus Regulations - in conformity with National standards.

Bus life is automatically capped at 25 years. A 5 year extension is automatically granted if the bus passes specific detailed inspection to meet the roadworthiness rules (which happens every year anyhow to a less detailed standard)

Any bus may apply to have its life extended for a possible further "period", I assume new 25 year shot,  if it is fully refurbished, including structural crack testing and engineer comprehensive inspection. Work done in the preceding 5 years may be taken into account in the refurbishment assessment. I doubt any big bus operator would go down this path. It may be to ensure there are enough school busses still on the road.

The double decker in question may well have had a new lease of life as a current active passenger carrier as NSW operates under the same National rules?

There are dispensations for historic bus operation with passengers but I doubt this extends to daily paid tourist operations.

The new period would be 5 years ...certainly not 25.............I was involved with busses some years ago ......very untrustworthy people,very bad payers............if I was to ever get on another coach ...I would ask to see the drivers licence ,because in my experience there is a 50/50 chance he doesnt have one..

Just had a detailed read of the "Age Zero Refurbishment" rules. It does take the bus back to start a new 25 year life plus 5 year extension (or whatever rule is in place in 2050).

You would have to be really keen to do this as the bus must now meet ADR's of the date the Refurbishment Certificate is issued. As busses do not change in appearance to the eye of the general public it could well be a commercial proposition for some vehicles or operators to go down this path. It must happen as I found several companies doing these refurbishments in Australia.

Even the double decker could be upgraded as the main problem doing this with cars is the crash testing which older ones can not meet but busses do not have to comply other than roll-over protection - calculated by an engineer not demonstrated. All busses must have engine braking available even if not used in normal driving and dual circuit brakes...Most types, but not all, of operation must have seat belts.

The catch with rebuilds was that finance companies wouldnt touch them ,bus owners had to spend their own money..........maybe thats changed ............I do see a lot of Chinese busses about ,and Id imagine a new Chinese bus to be a lot cheaper than a local rebuild ...............saw a funny thing the other day ...Chinese double decker busses in London .....60 years ago it was London made busses in China (AEC)