(05 May 2024, 12:40 pm)Storx wrote It's a completely different network though, franchising in an urban area is simple as there's numerous depots overlapping each other so choice can be made. In comparison to here there's 2 depots in the whole of Co. Durham, to pick one area. There's numerous routes like the 1, 5, 7, 8, X75, X76 which are fully operated from depots outside the area and are arguably some of the most important routes in the area aswell.

Unless you're planning to build new depots then there's absolutely no where you can tender those from using the Bee Network model. Similar problems start with the X12 and X21 aswell, so unless your planning to double the size of Belmont or build multiple new depots then something needs to change otherwise there won't be any competitive tendering using the current depots as Arriva will be the only people who can operate them and will just charge whatever they want, otherwise you're going to have to let them run them commercially which then defeats the point of it if half the network in SE Durham isn't franchised.