Bus Design Trends in the U.K. A Plea for Simplicity

Whole-life costing techniques are underlining the virtues of heavier-duty vehicles and components. The double-decker, still representing over 60% of the annual intake of vehicles for multi-stop service, seems likely to remain dominant despite recent challenges. Trends in legislation,especially that of international origin,tend to increase complexity and hence both cost and weight, but there is a strong case for a revival of the traditional virtues of simplicity, efficiency - especially in regard to fuel consumption - and weight-saving.