The new 46 buses come with a rattle and squeak

• WHEN I discovered the old stock on the 46 bus Lancaster Gate to Bart’s hospital route was going to be replaced I saw the move as cause for rejoicing.

In due course the new buses arrived, looking bright and shiny, with a bulbous top containing the fuel cells and plenty of space inside. So far so good.

Then after a few months it became apparent that these buses may well have been built on a Friday afternoon because they rattle and squeak.

Some of this may be caused by the fact that there appears to be no suspension. We hit a bump and the mainframe seems to drop like a stone.

So why do we have such shoddy buses? They result from co-operation between the Chinese firm BYD and ADL, the great Scottish bus manufacturers, Alexander Dennis.

The buses have the insignia of the Chinese firm in the steering wheel. Surely BYD and ADL could do something about this before we find ourselves in another “Boris Bus” scenario.

CHRISTOPHER MASON
Hawley Road, NW1