Stagecoach Gold for MCSL

[mbonwick]

RE: Stagecoach Gold for MCSL
It's already been said elsewhere that the X8 won't be having the Enviro300s replaced any time soon, so that's out.

X22 isn't it, and from the sounds of it doesn't have the loadings.

The original premise of Gold wasn't just for areas with high car usage. Originally it was for routes who's growth had plateaued even with (almost) brand new vehicles, and the only way to keep increasing ridership was to go luxurious.
Take the X46 in Northampton for example - passenger growth justified the upgrade from Tridents to Scania Enviro400s. Numbers continued to grow, but then started to level off. Introduce Gold and they're started rising again.

Also - QBPs only set minimum standards, and revenue sharing only covers passes...so there is the incentive to possibly upgrade and generate more revenue from single/return fares.