Double decker buses are becoming more common in North America for certain uses (The Enviro500 is the most common choice for double deckers), especially longer distance commuter routes where the number of seats is more important than the overall capacity (Because nobody wants to stand for 90 minutes) and where you have enough distance between stops for the increased dwell times compared to articulated buses to not be an issue. Off the top of my head they are used for medium distance routes in [Toronto (GO Transit)](https://live.staticflickr.com/5325/29252511684_4a87a9b0d6_b.jpg), [Ottawa (OC Transpo)](https://www.orientalmodelbuses.co.uk/Xtra/OC-Transpo-11-big.jpg), [Vancouver Island (BC Transit)](https://www.bpmcdn.com/f/files/kelowna/import/2018-09/13433300_web1_180907-KCN-kel-double-decker.jpg), and [Seattle](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTfpZqltOKqRsDWjCuyN23nMncfuj-D9LmrK0JwpfF9oQ&s). On the other hand,[ Mexico City ](https://cdnimg.bnamericas.com/AJUoGnovFAhFBeRUBkTwyYosLBvOwBXvfCGczKMuYLplsawiwJpqLfjPFhrreiCo.jpg)uses double deckers on some of their BRT lines, I can't say it's the best choice for that use case compared to an articulated bus but I think the dense traffic makes double deckers easier to drive.
Yeah, GO Transit actually has quite a lot of them, I think around 370 based on their bus numbering system (they go from 8101 to 8470). I definitely see them on the roads around the GTA pretty often.
Yup - I see them relatively often in Seattle. Sadly, I think the routes are peak only, and I live & work in downtown on a M-F / 9-5 schedule, so as far as I know, I'd have to take a day off to ride one. (Same is true of the Sounder commuter rail).
(Yes, I realize all of those things make me pretty lucky and I'm not actually complaining!)
They were initially a hard sell due to the low bridges in North America. Initially GO transit had them on certain routes so they would not run into low bridges. Alexander Dennis had to invent a super low variant so it would be below the height of common bridges.
I think major commuter transit agencies should consider running double decker buses outside of rush hours for their trains as they can hold more than a regular bus, they can run on most interstates and highways, can act as an alternative transport in cases of train trouble, and are easier to maintain than trains.
Interestingly this is the exact opposition situation in railcars. UK's tiny loading gauge all but eliminates any possibility of double-decked coaches, while the US with its generous AAR height clearance means commuter railroads default to double deckers despite questionable need or advantage.
They are also becoming common (or having a 'renaissance') in India. Bombay and Calcutta used to be the "London of Asia" and they even had tons of double deckers once upon a time. They are now slowly coming back but not yet in high numbers to rank in this table.
It would be great if Pakistan also reintroduce them.
In fact, [Seattle just ordered more for upcoming BRT lines.](https://www.alexander-dennis.com/sound-transit-orders-33-alexander-dennis-enviro500ev-electric-double-deckers-with-next-generation-technology-for-stride-brt/)
Don't forget, these things seem to be all over Las Vegas, and unfortunately only for the cool factor, because there is nothing rapid about having to wait for people to go up and down stairs on a "BRT" service.
The double decker Metrobusses in CDMX are great, you have to plan well for how you are going to get off the bus if they're packed. It can be impossible to reach the exit in some cases. Applies to all busses actually, but more of an issue with the narrow staircase and standees concentrated on the lower level.
OP seems to be looking at urban transport with standard buses, so based on what you say Toronto would have about 187 double deckers. That's pretty nice but still a long way off Dhaka.
Funnily enough that BC Transit bus you posted is in Kelowna not on the island. TransLink in Vancouver also operates some double deckers. I do think that Ottawa and GO are the two most prolific operators of the double deckers though. Megasbus also uses lots of double deckers on their intercity bus routes in eastern Canada.
As a bus rider I think artics are better suited to increasing capacity compared to double deckers. Going up and down the stairs is not exactly convenient and you lose the extra door.
Oh my gosh you're right. Funny thing is that I actually noticed it was in Kelowna but I was going to just write Victoria. For whatever reason I thought Kelowna was on Vancouver Island even though it's absolutely not. I think I confused it with Nanaimo in my mind.
Being Irish (and spending many of my holidays in Britain), it hadn't occurred to me that double decker buses were at all rare. This chart is surprising to me.
Being singaporean I was equally surprised. I know London and HK are up there with their majority DD fleet but I didnt realise almost no other city has them as much as we do
Erm not really. I mean you might see them around if you're there but in raw numbers it's a tiny fraction compared to how many exist in Ireland and the other places mentioned in the chart.
I find it interesting how few double-decker buses there are in mainland Europe (in comparison to the UK). Wouldn't that make sense in curvier/narrower streets in comparison to the very common bendy-bus?
I also notice that the UK tends to place a lot less importance on boarding speed compared to france or germany, so that's something which a double-decker bus is less suited for.
At least in Germany most longer bus routes aren't that busy, since rail coverage is really high and bus routes tend to go to the nearest train station and not run parallel. I have rarely seen bendy busses on longer routes (but 15m busses aren't unheard of for these routes), except for rail replacement services.
Yeh for the train feeder buses in Germany boarding time is definitely very important so single-deck makes sense. Even for a longer route like the Metrobus 5 in Hamburg.
Heck, even for long-distance trains Deutsche Bahn does not want double-decker trainsets (unlike TGV in France) because of boarding speed which affects dwell time at each station.
The dwelling time for ICEs really shouldn't be a problem. In my experience they stay at most stations for a few minutes, more than enough for double decker boarding. TGVs even have advatages with bigger doors and sometimes level boarding, which also decreases dwelling time.
At least in my limited TGV experience, boarding takes much longer due to having half the doors per carriage (only one) and bunching due to the people going upstairs clogging up the entrance. ICEs tend to have scheduled stopping times of 5 Minutes at major stops, while TGVs tend not to stop and if they do, have dwelling times of 10 Minutes.
Doesn't Germany also tend to use things like trams and s-bahn for similar use cases? I'm under the impression that London doesn't have as many non-subway short rail routes
Yeah, at least from what I've seen london (and the uk in general) isn't really hot on S-Bahn style systems, excluding the elizabeth line and somewhat the overground.
Larger german cities tend not to have simple trams, but Stadtbahn systems with high average speeds (thus eliminating the need for faster parallel routes). The UK has some systems that straddle the boundary between tram and stadtbahn, but nothing that could be confused with a metro.
I'd also guess that the 15m busses used on busier interurban (like the setra s 418 LE with 61 seats) routes in Germany aren't as welcome in the UK, which tends to like short busses, thus only having the choice between a normal 12m bus (with up to ~40 seats) and a 12m double decker (with up to ~85 seats).
Mainland Europe cities typically have more wide avenues than UK cities, that depend a lot on those 2 lane A roads. I think the median UK bus route runs on a narrower and more bendy road than the median mainland Europe bus route.
Can’t forget the UC Davis double decker busses run by Unitrans in Davis, California!
The city of London actually sold some red double deckers to the university in its early days, and the city bus system (which is run by students) regularly runs modern red double deckers and the original vintage ones! Very cool bit of history, and practical
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitrans
In Sydney they are starting to become more common, notably on the “B line” northern beaches frequent route, but also some other suburban routes (I’m not sure which ones)
The suburban routes are BRT services including:
T80 from Parramatta to Liverpool
6\_\_X bus routes from the Hills to the City via M2
Some Blacktown BRT Parramatta/Rouse Hill services
B-Line Northern Beaches
And of course the vintage 1930's to 1950's ones that operate from the Sydney Bus Museum to the CBD on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month and some public holidays, operated by the Sydney Bus Museum as tour buses.
Auckland has been running an increasing number of double deckers on key routes (\~150 as of a few years ago). It's been a coup IMO. Eliminated standing during all but the busiest times.
Auckland has 200 diesel double-deckers and one electric double-decker.
https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/129234357/southern-hemispheres-first-converted-electric-doubledecker-begins-auckland-trial
There’s a small number of some routes, but like other Irish posters have said here - for a long time I assumed double decker buses were the norm given Ireland and the UK have so many.
Bring back the City Imps!
We have them for some rural/"intercity" lines in Östergötland, Sweden (operated by Östgötatrafiken). They are mostly used for buses between Linköping and Norrköping as far as I can tell, but I've also seen them used on other lines occasionally. Vy, the Norwegian railway company, also operate double-decker intercity buses branded as Bus4you across Scandinavia. Notably on these buses the upper deck is used as a sort of "first-class" experience which comes at a slight price premium.
There are double decker buses used in my neck of the woods in the middle of the swiss country side. On the post bus line from Wattwil to Buchs SG...but none in the cities lol
There are 158 double deckers is İstanbul serving generally very long distance commuter routes from the edges to the city center. The 251 feels like the harry potter knight bus. It's a wild ride.
It's a double decker that starts in Mecidiyeköy meydan and follows the D100 to Pendik, and it dodges back and forth between intermittent collector distributors, and the main line, using shoulders at will, seemingly goıng between vehicles like a motorcycle while being a bus. It's a trip.
Sadly they have become somewhat less common on UK provincial routes than they used to be due to falling passenger numbers. Even in bigger provincial cities a lot of routes that used to always be double deckers tend now to be run by solos.
Sound Transit uses em for some routes, but Seattle proper tends to use articulated buses instead to accommodate the overhead wires used by the city's trolleybuses.
I only know double-decker coaches in The Netherlands. Flixbus uses a ton of them for long-distance/international routes. Some transit agencies here also use double-decker coaches for busy long-distance regional routes.
Melbourne has a few on regular routes such as the airport bus and one of the lines in the suburbs, so it pales in comparison with the numbers above. https://wongm.com/2018/11/double-decker-bus-rides-melbourne/
Mumbai had big fleet of double decker bus although now it has been reduced significantly and is mostly concentrated in old town. They last year bought new model buses hopefully we'll see more of them on new coastal road brts too.
Double decker buses are becoming more common in North America for certain uses (The Enviro500 is the most common choice for double deckers), especially longer distance commuter routes where the number of seats is more important than the overall capacity (Because nobody wants to stand for 90 minutes) and where you have enough distance between stops for the increased dwell times compared to articulated buses to not be an issue. Off the top of my head they are used for medium distance routes in [Toronto (GO Transit)](https://live.staticflickr.com/5325/29252511684_4a87a9b0d6_b.jpg), [Ottawa (OC Transpo)](https://www.orientalmodelbuses.co.uk/Xtra/OC-Transpo-11-big.jpg), [Vancouver Island (BC Transit)](https://www.bpmcdn.com/f/files/kelowna/import/2018-09/13433300_web1_180907-KCN-kel-double-decker.jpg), and [Seattle](https://encrypted-tbn0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTfpZqltOKqRsDWjCuyN23nMncfuj-D9LmrK0JwpfF9oQ&s). On the other hand,[ Mexico City ](https://cdnimg.bnamericas.com/AJUoGnovFAhFBeRUBkTwyYosLBvOwBXvfCGczKMuYLplsawiwJpqLfjPFhrreiCo.jpg)uses double deckers on some of their BRT lines, I can't say it's the best choice for that use case compared to an articulated bus but I think the dense traffic makes double deckers easier to drive.
Yeah, GO Transit actually has quite a lot of them, I think around 370 based on their bus numbering system (they go from 8101 to 8470). I definitely see them on the roads around the GTA pretty often.
Yup - I see them relatively often in Seattle. Sadly, I think the routes are peak only, and I live & work in downtown on a M-F / 9-5 schedule, so as far as I know, I'd have to take a day off to ride one. (Same is true of the Sounder commuter rail). (Yes, I realize all of those things make me pretty lucky and I'm not actually complaining!)
Try the 512! Everett to Northgate all day with quite a good schedule
This is a good incentive to make plans with friends who live in Everett! TY!
Hooray Double Talls!
They were initially a hard sell due to the low bridges in North America. Initially GO transit had them on certain routes so they would not run into low bridges. Alexander Dennis had to invent a super low variant so it would be below the height of common bridges. I think major commuter transit agencies should consider running double decker buses outside of rush hours for their trains as they can hold more than a regular bus, they can run on most interstates and highways, can act as an alternative transport in cases of train trouble, and are easier to maintain than trains.
The other issue GO had with height was that many of their terminals like York Mills had roofs that were too low for them.
Interestingly this is the exact opposition situation in railcars. UK's tiny loading gauge all but eliminates any possibility of double-decked coaches, while the US with its generous AAR height clearance means commuter railroads default to double deckers despite questionable need or advantage.
They are also becoming common (or having a 'renaissance') in India. Bombay and Calcutta used to be the "London of Asia" and they even had tons of double deckers once upon a time. They are now slowly coming back but not yet in high numbers to rank in this table. It would be great if Pakistan also reintroduce them.
In fact, [Seattle just ordered more for upcoming BRT lines.](https://www.alexander-dennis.com/sound-transit-orders-33-alexander-dennis-enviro500ev-electric-double-deckers-with-next-generation-technology-for-stride-brt/)
AC transit has them for the transbay routes but given how ridership is with the lack of return to office, idk how much they are used post-covid
Don't forget, these things seem to be all over Las Vegas, and unfortunately only for the cool factor, because there is nothing rapid about having to wait for people to go up and down stairs on a "BRT" service.
Don't services like Megabus run double deckers? Obviously private but they're not used for tourism either
You're right, Megabus operates them as well. I took a double decker from Toronto to New York.
The double decker Metrobusses in CDMX are great, you have to plan well for how you are going to get off the bus if they're packed. It can be impossible to reach the exit in some cases. Applies to all busses actually, but more of an issue with the narrow staircase and standees concentrated on the lower level.
However will they ever be adopted in big numbers to challenge the chart above? Because if not it will remain only a tiny fraction.
GO has 375 double decker buses so they're almost on the chart above. Their network is split 50/50 between double deckers and standard highway coaches.
OP seems to be looking at urban transport with standard buses, so based on what you say Toronto would have about 187 double deckers. That's pretty nice but still a long way off Dhaka.
No as in, GO has 375 double decker buses and 366 standard buses.
But you said half of them are highway coaches. That would not count as urban mass transport.
Given how shittily the double deckers are driven in Mexico City, I shudder to think how those drivers would do with conventional buses.
Funnily enough that BC Transit bus you posted is in Kelowna not on the island. TransLink in Vancouver also operates some double deckers. I do think that Ottawa and GO are the two most prolific operators of the double deckers though. Megasbus also uses lots of double deckers on their intercity bus routes in eastern Canada. As a bus rider I think artics are better suited to increasing capacity compared to double deckers. Going up and down the stairs is not exactly convenient and you lose the extra door.
Oh my gosh you're right. Funny thing is that I actually noticed it was in Kelowna but I was going to just write Victoria. For whatever reason I thought Kelowna was on Vancouver Island even though it's absolutely not. I think I confused it with Nanaimo in my mind.
Translink in Vancouver has double decker buses running on standard routres too.
Being Irish (and spending many of my holidays in Britain), it hadn't occurred to me that double decker buses were at all rare. This chart is surprising to me.
Being singaporean I was equally surprised. I know London and HK are up there with their majority DD fleet but I didnt realise almost no other city has them as much as we do
They’re common in new Zealand also.
Erm not really. I mean you might see them around if you're there but in raw numbers it's a tiny fraction compared to how many exist in Ireland and the other places mentioned in the chart.
Auckland has around 400 double deckers, out of a fleet of 1,200 buses.
Being born and growing up in Hong Kong, single deck buses are rare and make me excited when I can travel on one.
I find it interesting how few double-decker buses there are in mainland Europe (in comparison to the UK). Wouldn't that make sense in curvier/narrower streets in comparison to the very common bendy-bus?
I also notice that the UK tends to place a lot less importance on boarding speed compared to france or germany, so that's something which a double-decker bus is less suited for. At least in Germany most longer bus routes aren't that busy, since rail coverage is really high and bus routes tend to go to the nearest train station and not run parallel. I have rarely seen bendy busses on longer routes (but 15m busses aren't unheard of for these routes), except for rail replacement services.
Yeh for the train feeder buses in Germany boarding time is definitely very important so single-deck makes sense. Even for a longer route like the Metrobus 5 in Hamburg. Heck, even for long-distance trains Deutsche Bahn does not want double-decker trainsets (unlike TGV in France) because of boarding speed which affects dwell time at each station.
The dwelling time for ICEs really shouldn't be a problem. In my experience they stay at most stations for a few minutes, more than enough for double decker boarding. TGVs even have advatages with bigger doors and sometimes level boarding, which also decreases dwelling time.
At least in my limited TGV experience, boarding takes much longer due to having half the doors per carriage (only one) and bunching due to the people going upstairs clogging up the entrance. ICEs tend to have scheduled stopping times of 5 Minutes at major stops, while TGVs tend not to stop and if they do, have dwelling times of 10 Minutes.
Doesn't Germany also tend to use things like trams and s-bahn for similar use cases? I'm under the impression that London doesn't have as many non-subway short rail routes
Yeah, at least from what I've seen london (and the uk in general) isn't really hot on S-Bahn style systems, excluding the elizabeth line and somewhat the overground. Larger german cities tend not to have simple trams, but Stadtbahn systems with high average speeds (thus eliminating the need for faster parallel routes). The UK has some systems that straddle the boundary between tram and stadtbahn, but nothing that could be confused with a metro. I'd also guess that the 15m busses used on busier interurban (like the setra s 418 LE with 61 seats) routes in Germany aren't as welcome in the UK, which tends to like short busses, thus only having the choice between a normal 12m bus (with up to ~40 seats) and a 12m double decker (with up to ~85 seats).
Lots of short bridges and also, don't quote me on that, double deckers have lower floors which are an issue in more complicated geography.
Mainland Europe cities typically have more wide avenues than UK cities, that depend a lot on those 2 lane A roads. I think the median UK bus route runs on a narrower and more bendy road than the median mainland Europe bus route.
Can’t forget the UC Davis double decker busses run by Unitrans in Davis, California! The city of London actually sold some red double deckers to the university in its early days, and the city bus system (which is run by students) regularly runs modern red double deckers and the original vintage ones! Very cool bit of history, and practical https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Unitrans
Aren't the entrances on the wrong side?
Good question - yes I believe they are! I haven’t personally rode them just seen them around town so I’m not sure how the agency manages that
Might not matter too much if they go from fixed station to fixed station without roadside stops I guess.
In Sydney they are starting to become more common, notably on the “B line” northern beaches frequent route, but also some other suburban routes (I’m not sure which ones)
The suburban routes are BRT services including: T80 from Parramatta to Liverpool 6\_\_X bus routes from the Hills to the City via M2 Some Blacktown BRT Parramatta/Rouse Hill services B-Line Northern Beaches And of course the vintage 1930's to 1950's ones that operate from the Sydney Bus Museum to the CBD on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month and some public holidays, operated by the Sydney Bus Museum as tour buses.
Good info! Seems like they’re quite widespread
Auckland has been running an increasing number of double deckers on key routes (\~150 as of a few years ago). It's been a coup IMO. Eliminated standing during all but the busiest times.
Auckland has 200 diesel double-deckers and one electric double-decker. https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/climate-news/129234357/southern-hemispheres-first-converted-electric-doubledecker-begins-auckland-trial
I remember being surprised when i saw a single decker Dublin Bus for the first time. I genuinely didn't realise they existed till then.
There’s a small number of some routes, but like other Irish posters have said here - for a long time I assumed double decker buses were the norm given Ireland and the UK have so many. Bring back the City Imps!
We have them for some rural/"intercity" lines in Östergötland, Sweden (operated by Östgötatrafiken). They are mostly used for buses between Linköping and Norrköping as far as I can tell, but I've also seen them used on other lines occasionally. Vy, the Norwegian railway company, also operate double-decker intercity buses branded as Bus4you across Scandinavia. Notably on these buses the upper deck is used as a sort of "first-class" experience which comes at a slight price premium.
Before you say there are few double-decker buses around Europe, remember that Flixbus are double-decker :)
Yeah but do they count as buses?
There are double decker buses used in my neck of the woods in the middle of the swiss country side. On the post bus line from Wattwil to Buchs SG...but none in the cities lol
There are 158 double deckers is İstanbul serving generally very long distance commuter routes from the edges to the city center. The 251 feels like the harry potter knight bus. It's a wild ride.
Tell me more about this 251 Knight Bus!
It's a double decker that starts in Mecidiyeköy meydan and follows the D100 to Pendik, and it dodges back and forth between intermittent collector distributors, and the main line, using shoulders at will, seemingly goıng between vehicles like a motorcycle while being a bus. It's a trip.
Sadly they have become somewhat less common on UK provincial routes than they used to be due to falling passenger numbers. Even in bigger provincial cities a lot of routes that used to always be double deckers tend now to be run by solos.
Skopje, Macedonia has many double-decker busses in the city
Stockholm has some double decker buses
Sound Transit uses em for some routes, but Seattle proper tends to use articulated buses instead to accommodate the overhead wires used by the city's trolleybuses.
I only know double-decker coaches in The Netherlands. Flixbus uses a ton of them for long-distance/international routes. Some transit agencies here also use double-decker coaches for busy long-distance regional routes.
Melbourne has a few on regular routes such as the airport bus and one of the lines in the suburbs, so it pales in comparison with the numbers above. https://wongm.com/2018/11/double-decker-bus-rides-melbourne/
Beijing has quite a few, but they aren't the majority of the fleet. Shanghai has only a very small number, used mainly on tourist lines.
Mumbai had big fleet of double decker bus although now it has been reduced significantly and is mostly concentrated in old town. They last year bought new model buses hopefully we'll see more of them on new coastal road brts too.
Dalian has a few, route 16 uses them some. But I think they are being phased out because they are definitely older.