(11 Jul 2014, 4:01 pm)aureolin wrote I don't think any bus routes should be ran by a taxi. It's unacceptable. I get on a bus and I know that my driver has gone through extensive PCV training. This isn't the case with a taxi bus, and is also one of the reservations I have if it turns out that GCT will be operating using Bluebirds. As the vehicle only has a maximum 16 seats, I could drive it in passenger service on a normal car licence - which is quite worrying. I obviously couldn't drive something like a Solo SR or Versa, as I haven't had the additional training and qualification to do so.
Whilst I think we'll both completely agree that in a deregulated market there are passengers left without a bus service, I do think there are better solutions.
Both the 73 and 37 for example have been set up to provide links and service for pockets of folk that have been abandoned by commercial operations - Biddick Woods and Teal Farm for example, both of which were said not to need a bus service because of house value and car ownership.
Under the current system it's evident that commercial operators aren't going to serve areas which the TB20 and TB21 serve, but could part of a route not be secured? e.g. half of the 71s are diverted to run via the old 178 route? It'd still be running the 71 route for the majority, and the operator would have a guaranteed source of income for that section of the route. Surely that's got to be cheaper than having a taxi running round all day?
It must be cheaper and I know I am stating the obvious, but the problems we face under the deregulated market - mean that the bus companies have no moral or legal obligation to serve areas which they don't feel will bring them that quick buck.
Because of the failure of deregulation, taxpayers are left to foot the bill - in these cases, via taxi buses or smaller service buses, like the Bluebirds.
It isn't ideal, but unless Nexus can force an operators hand and play with their conscience, we are stuck with the alternative. Which although better than nothing, isn't ideal.
Appreciate we are going off topic, but in the case of the 493, GNE allegedly wouldn't run the service, unless Nexus subsidised it.
Nexus obviously said no, the 493 was axed and Nexus stepped in to fund the 79 between Penshaw and Hall Lane (the historic part of the route).
Bizarrely (seeing as they couldn't afford to run the 493), GNE decided to fill the majority of the remaining section with a combination of umpteen buses and hour between Penshaw and Washington. No idea why or how they can make money with those, when they couldn't just a short while earlier.
This was replicated with the decision to run nowt commercially for the last 3 hours of the night in Fencehouses - so Nexus had to step in and fill the breach again with the 79a.
No idea whether the drivers have undergone additional training to drive the vehicles in question - but there are accredited courses out there.
The name escapes me at the moment.
Edit: MiDas is the course/qualification that can be taken.