(21 Nov 2019, 8:39 pm)Andreos1 wrote We've had the current system since 1986. It's private and is flawed in so many ways. I'd argue they are far from efficient. 
We've seen companies go to the wall, we've seen buyouts and mergers and we've seen dodgy deals where operating areas are carved up to suit. 



Im not sure about the relevance or accuracy of the first paragraph you make.
How is this the case? What methods and data have you used to back up the claims? 

As for the competing services. Pity the poor folks who don't have competing services eh? Or have seen bus wars, cuts in service or reductions in the level of service, as theres not enough profit.

Did you ever ride the Express services pre-86? Lovely, comfy rides, with coach seating across a range of vehicles. Uprated engines that improved overall performance appeared too.
All with the aim of enticing punters. Attractive fares too. I think we discussed the variences in inflation and the price equivalent fares would be now, taking in to account inflation. Then compared them to the actual fares we see today. 
If the aim is to entice punters on to vehicles and the WiFi, apps and gimmicks actually do help in achieving this, then why would a change to the current system, see the removal of those gimmicks?



I'd love a pair of the rose tinted glasses that everyone looks back through into the pre-deregulation era!
The deregulated era, at 33 years and a month old, has actually lasted longer than the PTE and NBC era (only almost 18 years).
Passenger numbers have been falling since the early 1950s, the PTEs and NBC actually having little, if any, impact on slowing down the decline.
As one who spent 9 years working for a PTE (Greater Manchester 1977-1986) I can say that passenger numbers were falling at a faster rate than they do today, service were continually being reduced even the economies from one-man operation couldn't get the books to balance. 
Whilst the deregulated model isn't perfect, and the early years of deregulation were dreadful for passengers, many of todays bus companies are doing a good job in attracting new passengers and retaining current ones given the challenges of the current day.
You've got to remember that pre-1986 there was no Metrocentre, so people shopped locally (for which the bus is an attractive option), many people worked locally (in large factories, coal mines etc), again movements for which the bus is an attractive option; there was no Sunday shopping, or much late night opening; children generally went to their local school, they didn't travel half way across Tyne & Wear to go to school; there weren't difficult to serve out of town shopping centres or business parks (which attract people from a wide geographic area, difficult to transport by bus)

Those who are interested and "pro" re-regulation should read the 600 plus page document that TfGM currently have out to consultation - https://greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/what-we-do/transport/doing-buses-differently-consultation-on-proposed-franchising-scheme/
their franchised network has no enhanced vehicle standards, no network (service) improvements and is planned to continue losing passengers!! Oh, and above inflation fare increases every year (+1.4%). Nothing to solve congestion or restrict car use either.