(24 Oct 2013, 6:46 am)aureolin wrote Forgive my ignorance, but what defines a low cost unit? I've heard the reference a couple of times, but don't really know what it entails.
I believe they were originally set up to bid for contract work, that full cost depots couldn't compete on due to their higher overheads. Think along the lines of lower wage rates, sickness/pension provision, breaks etc. The 'carrot', if you like, was fewer weekend & late shifts. Generally, not a full cost operational depot.
Saltmeadows, Consett, Peterlee, a couple of lines at Hexham (Tynedale Links) and a couple of lines at Deptford (Nexus I would think) were the units last time I looked into it.
Of course, this might have all changed now? This is based mostly on what I remember from a driving open day a few years back.