There was talk of introducing double-decker buses to Las Vegas for a long time before it actually happened, which was in October of 2005, when the Regional Transportation Division of Southern Nevada launched its "Deuce" buses, servicing the Strip. These gold-colored double-deckers cost just under $600,000 each and are 40 feet long and 14 feet wide. They can accommodate up to 97 passengers (53 on the upper level, 27 on the lower level, plus up to 17 standing on the lower deck), plus two wheelchair positions (access ramps front and back), and are fully air-conditioned. The standard fare for one ride is $2 or four tokens one way, while a 24-hour "all-access pass" is $5 and is good on the CAT and MAX buses. For additional information about reduced fare options, click here. As of Feb. 19, some changes were made to the Deuce's schedule and routes: for up-to-date information, click on this link: www.rtcsouthernnevada.com/cat/routechanges/feb06.htm.
So that's the word on the Deuce bus. But last year, classic London-style red open-top double-deckers were also supposed to be introduced to the Strip, imported by a company called London Transport Corp. (a k a The Big Bus Company of Las Vegas) at a cost of $100,000 each. In May 2005, the local press was all abuzz with the story of how a German investment banker named Raimond Capel would, by the end of summer, be operating a fleet of these tourist buses that would offer passengers a full-day pass to travel up and down the Strip, getting on and off at will, while being regaled with historical facts and interesting trivia about the sites they passed en route, for $25 per person.
Then something strange happened. On June 30, the Las Vegas Review-Journal ran an article stating, "Representatives of a company that hopes to operate red double-decker buses in Southern Nevada on Wednesday denied several claims its majority owner recently made about his proposed business model." The company attorney commented that it had been "regrettable" that Mr. Capel was the one who'd been interviewed and apologized for the "ill-fated remarks" about his plans for the vehicles, which apparently contravened certain state laws regulating the use of buses.
Turns out the whole "hop-on hop-off" concept is not permissible and the attorney emphasized that what the company was seeking was a license to offer a charter service. He also said Mr. Capel was no longer supervising the company's daily operations.
So we did some sleuthing and found the agenda for the June 29, 2005 Nevada Transportation Services Authority meeting, in which London Transport Corp. applied for "a Certificate of Public Convenience and Necessity to provide charter bus service within the state of Nevada" (Item no. 31, Docket No. 04-11005). From the list of active certificates for charter buses in the state of Nevada, which we also tracked down, it appears that the request was granted and that the company was awarded certificate no. 2112.
But then something bad happened. On July 7, a red double-decker bus in London was bombed. Immediately, there were rumblings that the launch of the Vegas fleet would be delayed. And then we heard nothing more.
And have heard and read nothing since.
We found a number for The Big Bus Company of Las Vegas, but when we called it during office hours, no one answered. If the project ever resurfaces, we'll be sure to pass on the word, but for now it seems to have vanished off the map.
