(03 Apr 2021, 2:25 pm)Dan wrote I don't think anyone is 'anti-independents' - what doesn't wash nowadays is poor operation, and that is the same regardless of who the operator is, be it the larger three, or anyone else.Henry Cooper's is another good example of an excellent independent, having rode on their 392 service on Thursday evening I found that their Eclipse Urban 2 they used was presented verry nicely and the driver was also nice. I do hope they end up getting more contracts.
JH Coaches and Stanley Travel are two excellent examples of SME operators who invest in their fleet, are smartly presented, have kind and courteous drivers, and seem to run their contracts well. They mightn't have all the same 'niceties' such as free Wi-Fi and power sockets as Go North East or Arriva, for example, but are really professional and seem to be doing well for themselves (even if that's in other areas - not the local bus scene tender market, where Gateshead Central Taxis almost have the monopoly).
A-line Coaches have also significantly invested in the last year or two, have created a new corporate identity (even if I'm personally not keen on their battleship grey livery), and have fulfilled the BODS requirements, so their services can now be tracked in real-time.
RE: Gateshead Central Taxis