(05 Jul 2022, 5:33 pm)Malarkey wrote You know what is even worse about them announcing a fare increase today is the fact that it's down to "Cost of running services" which was the same reason they gave during the consultation for services to be withdrawn, Go North East have been supported by Nexus with funding provided to help keep these services operating, so why is this money not being used towards operating costs such as fuel for example, why is it once again that the customers they screaming for to comeback to using the bus post-pandemic are the ones that are being penalised for a second time in 6 months whilst I appreciate there has been reductions in fares in recent years i'd say your only saving if you use the Go North East App, if your paying onboard the bus are the fares any cheaper pre-pandemic to post pandemic, i'd be interested to see some price comparisons.

Furthermore they announced yesterday that any "New Drivers" they take on will receive £750 welcome bonus as an incentive to help aid ongoing "Driver Shortages", this is split into two payments, one of £250 on the drivers first week in service without supervision following training followed by a £500 payment a week before Christmas. https://www.gonortheast.co.uk/bus-driver

Where is this money coming from when they've made a financial loss and again state they cannot afford to operate services?

Recruitment bounties aren't uncommon in business. They've clearly got a recruitment problem, and its a measure they're putting in place to try and attract workers externally. Perhaps its been decided that this outlay is better than to continue to risk service going forward?

Many businesses actually operate 'finder fee' payments to existing staff, if they refer someone for employment and they remain there for X number of months, or even discounts of their products to staff. Do we question these practices by the same token, or is it just bus operators?

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