I had occasion to use three bus routes yesterday, run by Stagecoach Cambus. They seem to have bought a new fleet of buses. Whilst they have low level entry (kneeler buses) the seats are the worst I have seen since I regularly used a service during the war which had a Bedford Utility bus (with slatted wooden seats). It would seem that they are trying to discourage passengers from using the services (especially the elderly with free passes, paid for by the local authority).
Obviously these buses are being designed by overpaid designers who do not need to use their products.
I was in Penrith last week with a lady in a wheelchair and discovered that Stagecoach buses are not enabled. We wanted to go to Rheged and had to get a taxi instead. I have since written to Stagecoach but not received an answer yet. :(
Larkshall, the buses that you mentioned i think are all disability compatable (have to be now by law) and the seats are removable for steam cleaning. This is why they are so uncomfortable.
I believe that they are making enough money from the 5 park and ride sites which has paid for the buses and i also believe that they are gas powered. I remember going to donarbon (collect the green waste) and they were building something that collected methane from the rubish and converted it to fuel to power the rubish collecting vehcles so its possible the busses are powered buy the same thing.