(09 Nov 2023, 1:38 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Perhaps, but would that money include the increased cost as a result of the pay rise to drivers? Could they hike the prices to the government the same way they can hike them for passengers to cover the cost?
Would they though?
Lets say GNE go bust, there would then be 'over 2000' people looking for a job.
There would be absolutely no incentive for Stagecoach or Arriva to offer any bonuses to join. In fact, they could probably pay them less because the drivers have no choice.
That's simple supply and demand.
Yeah, if GNE went bust (highly doubt that mind), then some other operator would just buy the fleet and depots on the cheap and pretty much start up it up again. Stuff like the 10, 20, 21, 56, 58, X1 would go in a heartbeat.
I'd be pretty confident that Arriva would be extremely interested in the 21, 307, 309, Q3 and X21 and I'd be pretty confident Stagecoach would be interested in the Hexham operations, Sunderland local operations and South Tyneside operations to dominate their respective areas, if they could get them on the cheap. The rest who knows but someone would, maybe Rotala (got help us) or someone else might fancy a go in the area.
You just have to look at how quick Stagecoach jumped on pretty marginal services in the Arriva 52 and 55 when they had a chance.