Quick question as this reminds me in part of a Boris bus, my carriage of no choice to work.
Is it just the New Bus for London (Boris) hybrid that appears to need resetting for frequent problem like pressure warnings etc, or is it particular to the Boris bus. Last Friday the three restarts added 10 mins to my journey.
I’ve not driven the New Routemaster (LT) bus, however Leon Daniels, former TfL Head of Surface Transport did give me a cab drill on one.
I remember at the time thinking it is a complex beast.
It is a Parallel Hybrid so the engine doesn’t drive the wheels. It is quite unique too. A bit of a lash up and white elephant. Often they have the diesel engine running all the time. Kinda defeats the purpose!
They’re notoriously unreliable according to mates who drive them. It wouldn’t surprise me if they needed regular resets…
The Series Hybrid Volvo B5LH buses I’ve driven are not so reliable either. Emissions control equipment and engines shitting themselves…
The best seller is the Alexander Dennis Enviro 400H which seem to be reasonably good.
All buses are complex beasts full of sensors that can shit themselves and cause seemingly unrelated problems.
Sometimes this can be rectified by switching everything off and ‘isolating’ the bus. Like rebooting a computer I suppose.
Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.
Give me a Semi Automatic Leyland Leopard with Alexander bodywork any day… Proper bus! 
While from the conversation a couple of weeks ago I understand that many smaller bus and coach companies will struggle to flip over to electric, it’s obvious that TfL will make their buses all electric fairly soon. Already you see plenty on the roads, and they have the budget to just make it work.
I have a lovely memory of walking past a bus in the Wharf that was broadcasting “This bus is under attack. Please call the emergency services immediately”.
I really felt for the poor schmo behind the wheel with his head in his hands clearly thinking “No, it’s really not”.
Yes, a number of new contracts are for Milkfloats now. I wouldn’t rule out Hydrogen either.
Yes, smaller operators out in the sticks will struggle. A number have already closed or sold out to big groups.
There is also a major shortage of PCV Drivers- not just the UK- but in Mainland Europe too.
Anyhoo, back to rolling stock- significant numbers of ex TfL vehicles are going to come into the used market over the next couple of years, so hopefully that will buy time for operators to adapt.
Also, diesel ain’t dead yet. It’s still possible to buy them. They are lighter and cheaper. Our Milkfloats are roughly four tonnes heavier than their diesel predecessors.
I’ve been that person. The switch to activate that alarm is by the driver’s right knee. Easy to activate by accident!
There are defeat switches in various locations, but sometimes they do just activate by themselves!
Other highly amusing faults are bus stop bells ringing- when running not in service and with nobody else on board…
That was normal for East Lancashire Coach Builders bodied stuff… But that’s another set of stories for another time! 
Thought it might not only be the Boris bus, although that does appear to be the most complex. The other thing the Boris does is it sometimes has a form of turrets. So you will get 24 for Camden, Turnham Green, Acton garbled announcements, and the thousand and one variations on that theme.
Haunted buses? Nice.
Yes, the gun mounts are to be used against badly parked vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians crossing on a red crossing light, or just for fun.
Not a surprise.
So. Much. Lost. Mileage!
Makes a change from the usual Milkfloat !
Well that’s likely to cost me £150 
What on earth do you want to do that for?
Apart from the fact that buses are used by the great unwashed I would have thought it was perfect for you, chauffeur driven as it is.
The boy will want a go. No need for driving experience or a licence!
I am tempted, especially as I have never driven anything. Would be fun to change that to have never driven except for I once drove a bus, and perhaps one day a locomotive.