How It’s Made – Double-Decker Buses
A double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or decks. Double-decker buses are used for mass transport in the United Kingdom, Europe, Asia and many former European possessions an iconic example being the red London bus. Double-decker buses are also used in many other cities around the world.
Video – Discovery Channel
Early double-deckers put the driver in a separate cab. Passenger access was via an open platform at the rear, and a bus conductor would collect fares. Modern double-deckers have a main entrance door at the front, and the driver takes fares, thus halving the number of bus workers aboard, but slowing the boarding process. The rear open platform, popular with passengers, was abandoned for safety reasons, as there was a risk of passengers falling when running and jumping onto the bus.
Double-deckers are primarily for commuter transport but open-top models are used as sight-seeing buses for tourists.
In India, Hyderabad and Bangalore had double deckers for a while before discontinuing. Madras’s Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has a small fleet of double decker buses mostly in the high-density, longer distance routes.Mumbai has operated double decker buses since 1937. They are operated by the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking.
Kerala State Road Transport Corporation is operating double deckers in Thiruvananthapuram and Kochi cities. Kolkata and Hyderabad also have double-decker buses. They are modeled on the London buses. Ashok Leyland Titan double decker buses are used in all cities. Articulated double decker buses from Ashok Leyland were used till it was phased out in the early 1990s as they were thought to be unsuitable for city traffic.
Recently in Kolkata CSTC reintroduce double decker bus with music system in selected routes where wide road space is available, i.e. no over-head cables, low bridges or flyovers.CSTC has spent 1 million INR to renovate 1 bus. Today, double deckers only exist in Mumbai, Kolkata, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram.
