New buses or cascades/secondhand purchases

[sharksmith]

I use this forum primarily as a bus enthusiast and only very marginally as a bus user. With this in mind I enjoy seeing a regular turnover of buses to keep my local interest high. We are lucky to have many business models in West Yorkshire from First in Leeds receiving mainly new buses, First Bradford, Arriva in Dewsbury or Yorkshire Tiger with their mix of new and cascaded vehicles to First Halifax who almost only get cascades. We also have our independants buying in secondhand stock.

As a bus enthusiast which business model do you prefer?

For me I like the Bradford or Halifax models which produce a more regular turnover of vehicles for me to photo. I spend a lot of time in Carlisle and nothing would bore me more than the Carlisle model where about eighty percent of the fleet is replaced every 8/9 years with little movement in between, although this position was forced on Stagecoach somewhat by the famous Carlisle floods.

[Matty]

I like second hand vehicles, gives them a new lease of life when they leave their previous owner (Normally London) & gives them Extra service they may not have seen, as a lot of old buses go for Scrap or exported etc

[Deleted]

I've gone for the second option with a mix,while I do like cascades or second hand buses coming into fleets (providing they are decent ones!) and it can provide a varied scene and bring in combinations not seen around that area before,i do believe that every depot should get its share of new buses that it deserves and not just chuck them at one area (first I'm looking at you!). The only problem with cascades or second hand buses is that sometimes you get unlucky and end up with some right sheds! Remember about 5 year ago huddersfield and halifax had a load of Dennis dart sheds from various places.

[driver6540]

New and used, lets keep it varied.

[ratty]

Echo both CP's and 6540's views, nothing wrong with a cascade but put a new one or two in from time to time.

[kendall17]

Surely everyone should like options 1 & 2 as the new deliveries allow for options 3 & 4?

[clifton]

A mix of new & cascades. Keeps it varied for the enthusiasts.

[Steve Macz403]

new and cascades, though we should have routes like MCW metro buses thrown in with new Enviro 400's or Leyland Atlanteans thrown in with Volvo B9TL's. an odd Leyland Olympian here and there on a west yorkshire route would really make a bus enthusiasts dream come true.

[MetrolineGA1511]

I like new buses, and also refurbishments into moquettes that did not exist when the buses were new. Examples are Arriva Yorkshire LF Spectras. However, I prefer Arriva Max and Sapphire spec on new rather than refurbished buses.