(07 Jan 2020, 4:01 pm)Andreos1 I know you've said in the past that you like a good troll now and again, but really?
Care to share any examples of competition benefiting the consumer - whether this is related to public transport or not.
We could look at the bus wars seen on and off since 86.
We could look at the continual bail-out of private firms on the ECML and lack of competition on key sections of the route.
We could look at the aggressive buy-out of smaller bus ops and associated agreements stopping the firms re-appearing under another guise for x number of years.
I could go on, but would love to know if you really are trolling or not.
Competition benefits the customer, and in my opinion companies should not running scared of each other! They are the big three, not small companies who can be easily wiped out like all those years ago when Busways/Stagecoach bought out all the competition. Fair enough three lots of buses going the same way is not ideal from a traffic congestion point of view, and maybe commercially they will each make less revenue but if they can manage it on some routes, why not others? For example in the West End, they manage it both in Denton Burn/Fenham (West Road) and in Gosforth, only the areas in between are 'Stagecoach territory', even then we have the secured 84A in Slatyford/Fenham and the Northumberland secured 74 operating through Westerhope, Slatyford and Cowgate. I am in no way saying we need a regular service from all three operators, the 74 has been a lifeline, not having to pay Stagecoach and GNE to go to Gateshead for example. The X84/X85 are far less frequent than Stagecoach along the West Road, but for going to Gateshead they are what I need! When GNE operated the secured 32A I sometimes used that for going to GNE territory, or even Wallsend and Cobalt where Stagecoach also operates, but I prefer GNE.
Nexus secured bus service which are operated by the big three provide some competition, those operated by small independents provide a choice, but not serious competition, such as for more useful tickets enabling longer distance commutes.
An infrequent service is better than nothing, and surely wouldn't start a bus war, involving petty games!
Yes, airlines have their own territories, but they don't claim to be competing!
