Fair enough about the AWs! I didn't get too many opportunities to travel on them - in saying that they are the same body as the VGs, VWDs and most of the VWLs so it is suprising to hear that they are poorly built.

Dublin Bus does a lot of things very well - maintenance is far superior to most Bus Éireann depots (Galway as always is an honourable exception - they really do a great job looking after their fleet there) and many UK operators as well. But I don't agree with this obsession with ADL. I just don't. Maybe there is something I am missing, but I find ADLs to be a far less sturdy and robust design than Wrights.

Some of the AVs and AXs are just appalling for rattles and general lack of comfort!

I agree with you RH12 that the spec of Dublin Bus vehicles needs to be looked at as well. I really do think it is time to move on from bench seats. Even in troublesome parts of London, Glasgow etc they don't use bench seats! A standard Wrightbus bucket seat (like the ones in WH1) is very comfortable.

I would like to see bonded glazing be fitted to buses too - it makes them look so much smarter, though I do understand why Dublin Bus does not equip buses with bonded glazing. A gasket glazed window can be repaired in an hour, whereas a bonded glazed window takes about 12, and they are more expensive to repair too.

In saying that, I do think that the VGs for the Airlink should have had the spec of the VWDs. I think you could be onto something RH12 with regards to your idea of premium spec buses operating limited stop services, but Dublin Bus likes everything to be as standardised as possible.

I think the level of customisation in vehicles needs to be looked at as well. If you compare a VWD with a VG, you'll see that a VWD is an off the shelf standard Wrightbus product, whereas the VGs, as is well known are quite customised. The EVs are also specially customised for Dublin Bus as well.

I think the specially angled windscreen is a good idea, it shows a level of thoughtfulness towards its drivers by Dublin Bus that is not found by other operators, as are the electric wheelchair ramp (I really wish Bus Éireann would do the same). But having the VGs built to a 10.6 m length is questionable. I'm not really sure what 'benefit' this is supposed to have. The standard Volvo B9TL is 10.4 m (the EVs are 10.4 m). I don't like the layout of the front of the VG either. The split level luggage rack, which is not in the VGs, but is in the VWDs was a missed opportunity to create extra luggage space. As mentioned, I'm not really sure why Dublin Bus saw fit to include bench seats in this day and age. I'm not really keen on the 'power arm' for someone in a wheelchair either, though I'm sure it's better than the manual 'arm' that BÉ has in their latest citybuses, which exists to gather dust (it's never used, even when someone with a wheelchair is on board)! The old way where there was a carefully positioned pole was better. Also, I am at a loss as to why Dublin Bus is replacing the green stopping sign in the VGs for an orange one! That's hardly a good way to spend our money!