(27 Jan 2023, 10:53 am)Adrian wrote I'm minded to agree, but only because I don't think DRT is a viable solution across such a vast area as the whole of the Tees Valley CA. It's been pushed in as a sticking-plaster approach, instead of working with operators to ensure some of the more common travel needs are met.

It's costing the authority a million a year to provide, and I'd be very surprised if Stagecoach weren't making at least 25% from that. It'd likely be a lot cheaper to work out some fully secured services, even running only a couple times a day, covering a lot of these smaller settlements.

I don't think a lot of these journeys are niche; they're people trying to access shops and services, which is essential. Living in a smaller settlement shouldn't mean you're cut off from the world, but its further evidence that the objectives of private enterprise are at odds with the objectives of good public services.


Well yeah, it's so successful that it's been propped up and over-reliant on public money for years. You'll be telling me that branding doesn't work next.