(09 May 2020, 6:34 am)Metroline1511 wrote Go North East might be one of the most prolific operators in the country for operating smaller buses during the pandemic.

At the time the re-allocations were made, there was no Government support for bus operators. A huge plunge in passenger numbers and revenue (openly quoted as being a 90% loss) yet still burdening the full costs of many things to run a bus company, it was entirely sensible to allocate the most fuel-efficient, BSOG-earning buses, in the fleet.

The picture changed somewhat when the Government announced the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (although there are still many staff behind the scenes that don't drive buses that cannot be furloughed), and it's less of an issue now that the Government has pledged to support bus operators to help 'bridge the gap' on running costs to help them breakeven, but this still doesn't cover every cost in its entirety so in reality it will still be a loss that is made. Bus operators are very much - using a turn of phrase which has often been mooted on this forum - taking the rough with the smooth at the moment, as they're providing a lifeline service to many key workers.

If social distancing is still maintained (to the best it can be on a bus (let's face it, it's more or less impossible to sit 2m apart when the largest double-decks are only 2.5m in width, which is why the DfT guidance is for buses to be no more than 50% full), then I don't see the issue in running smaller buses to help mitigate some of the losses of running these lifeline services.

There seems to be no consistency, even locally, in what other operators are doing. I still think the mind boggles that Arriva North East haven't SORN'd any of their buses (but have taken them out of use!) At approx £40/month for tax, multiplied by 400 vehicles, Go North East have saved approximately £16,000 by SORN'ing the fleet.