(30 Jun 2020, 1:59 pm)cbma06 wrote At least the independents are running the services otherwise there wouldn’t be a bus service, there must be doing something right otherwise there lose the contract and not gain more contracts, there’s always going to be niggles in the system when taking on the contract.

So you want the independents to close?, as most of them depends on contract work to stay alive or there be more job losses. The independents are only about 20-25 years behind
Dont  forget years ago the big 3 were in the same boat with services not running, gaps in the schedule, uncleaned buses etc... , l can name a few from when OK was purchased and contracted services in East Durham area was missed out, drivers didn’t know the route and in turn buses were just parked up and drivers been told from control to do the best there can, when United/Arriva had more services in East Durham services weren’t running  and gaps in services, in which Arriva is the worst out of the 3, Arriva (DB) should be stripped of there buses and sent packing back to Germany and the buses ran by the government until I proper Business set up by the UK, don’t forget every bit of profit  Arriva makes don’t go back into the there company in the UK, all profits go to there own country to update there transport infrastructure and then get grants from the uk government to improve there bus services like what there did with the train service, the northern train service is going to take years to sort the mess out what Arriva caused.
Im just hoping the UK don’t adopt the euro5/6 etc... from the EU, so buses can stay longer on the roads and made better like what there used to before the EU started to **** this country up.


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Using Arriva Northern trains as a reason to franchise things is a really horrid comparison. There was nothing Arriva could do with the mess that was Northern which was totally caused by the D(a)FT with the absolute farce of the Orstall Chord in Manchester, the absolute mess of recent tenderings (Virgin East Coast, Transpennine aswell), the delays of new trains and electrification in other areas of the country delaying the trains Northern were due and the requirement of DOO which caused the similar issues down in London with Govia. Arriva made a massive loss from that and didn't get out of it for nothing. The fact that Class 142 trains are still in service now sums up things haven't improved with lack of trains. Very harsh to blame that on Arriva as much as you clearly have an agenda against them.

If anything it's a reason not to franchise things.