(31 Jul 2020, 3:42 pm)Big O wrote Got any proof to back that statement up? GNE wouldn't have to disappear, they'd just get paid per mile and their fuel subsidised. Franchising can work anywhere. it's just the organisation in charge can either make a mess of it or a success of it. There would be large upfront costs which seem unattractive at first however it is no different to when the first £350,000 Hybrids first showed up and they now pay for themselves. Nexus, by all means, are awful but put the power in someone else' hand and they could do well with it. 

The London system works but Tfl have had their subsidies cut, but they make the network attractive to travel on.

No bus company (private owned) will simply hand over their business to franchising without essentially the franchisee buying it first. A bus route is effectively their product in much the same way Tesco sells bread. You wouldn't walk into Tesco and take all of the bread to sell it yourself without actually paying for the right to do so?

Only then, do the likes of GNE, Stagecoach and Arriva essentially bid to operate work.

Nobody yet has managed to get franchising in place and running because of the cost associated to get it off the ground. Doesn't matter how much propaganda or positive words said, even Manchester haven't managed it yet.