(04 Jun 2022, 9:30 am)Dan wrote I think that’s the story the independent operators will tell!
In reality, larger operators were always going to be more successful in this round - they already had a large number of Euro 5 buses (which obtained extra quality marks), they already had contactless ticket machines (which most independent operators had to buy), and, importantly, their fuel prices are hedged, and this is therefore reflected in their tender price.
The fact the larger operators’ prices are all broadly similar suggests it is about the right price for them.
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And thus shows the issue with the tender process…fuel costs being the killer here.
Why would you bother running anything with little to no commercial revenue when you can ditch it and then pick it up the work from a small local operator from your friendly local council? Perhaps even run the service with buses the local taxpayer had already paid for? Yaaaay