Still another approx 350 Wrights to come. In a year you will
only see Wrights on the road. SBST/LTA should have selected some
other model as well to introduce some diversity.
At the end of the day, LTA & SBST are looking for cost
efficiencies in the long-term. Yes, bus fans can say that "oh, all
the same models, lack of diversity, so sian looking at the same
thing" etc, but in the first place, this is not HK. SBST does not
have a requirement to satisfy us bus fans by bringing in different
bus models, and they won't do so too just to satisfy us bus fans.
If they please LTA, they might get monetary rewards that you won't
know. But if they please us bus fans, what would they get from us?
$2?
Having the same bus model across the board will reduce their
cost redundacies, because they can bulk-order more of the same
spare parts (engine covers, doors, rims, body panels, even windows
etc) & use them more often, than to split the funds using
buying spare parts for different models. And in turn, they would be
more cost-efficient.
This bulk-ordering of B9TLs, KUBs and Citaros was the same as
back in the 90s when SBS bought those B10Ms & VOs in bulk too.
The only difference was that they bought those in different
variations of bodyworks, so we were less inclined to think of them
as "sian". But under those bodyworks, they are essentially the same
model.
The only thing that SBST did differently this time was that they
bought the same model with mostly in the same bodywork. But other
than that, their way of buying buses wasn't much different from the
90s.
So, if any bus fans find that looking at the same type of buses
running around is "too sian" for you, then those peeps can quit
this bus hobby and go obsess after cars or planes then, since
there're 'more
variations' for those vehicles. Even then, look at those
airlines earning profits yearly, esp those LCCs. There's a reason
why AirAsia operates all A320s & just bought new A320s to
replace the old planes.
To those who keep complaining of seeing the same thing, be
thankful that SBST at least uses this concept & maintains its
buses better than SMRT. Look at SMRT with all their different model
types & their maintenance, one crash of their SMRT bus and
you'll see it lay-up for months.
