The quality of maintenance directly impacts the number of vehicles available for operations, the service provided to passengers and the profitability for the operator. It also determines their lifespan. This applies to current vehicles, but particularly to new generation vehicles, equipped with modern technologies, for which the maintenance practices in place would be unsuitable.
The acquisition of new buses must therefore be accompanied by a maintenance organisation with new methods, new equipment and enhanced skills. A maintenance plan (with options, potentially) will have been established.
In addition, there is the question of the depot and maintenance centre facilities (upgrade or creation) that will be needed for these operations.
Related questions
- Are the maintenance terms during the “manufacturer” warranty period clearly specified in the vehicle acquisition contract?
- Will the manufacturer contribute to implementing maintenance structures and coordinating maintenance operations during the warranty period?
- Will the manufacturer’s participation in this outsourced maintenance continue beyond the warranty period? If so, according to which specifications and which contractual provisions?
- If the decision is to go for integrated maintenance performed by the operator (or operators):
- what principles and objectives have been adopted (pooling of the “maintenance” function: workshops and their equipment, central procurement office, etc.)? ? What legal status? What specifications? What are the financing methods? What are the relations with the manufacturer during the warranty period?
- are the depot and maintenance centre facilities in need of modernisation and, if so, what are the terms and the financing?
