(19 Sep 2020, 12:43 pm)Storx wrote On paper are GCT actually any worse than GNE in terms of quality though. Their vehicles are mostly newer, they have the same features (none of GNE secured Solos have anything) and didn't someone say awhile back that some now have USB's fitted (I might be dreaming there).Quality needs to be quantified more than just vehicles thou imo. You could argue that Nexus should be mandating others things in their contracts like contactless payments and real time information when dishing out of their tenders.
I'm not sure how the procurement system works but I can't imagine they can downgrade them for their service as in the main it's not really that bad, I'm sure GNE would've had a few missed runs aswell or not to the stage that it severly impacts them ratings wise anyway.
GCT get it hard on here, no-one ever gives them credit for the fact they've got 20 plate Enviro's running around and even the bread vans are new whether you like them or not (that's a different debate), they're certainly no-where near as bad as some make out on here and some of the other independents we've had in the past running around with complete tat.
Also it's not Nexus' and the tax payers job to top up big corporates to run the services which they don't feel like running as it doesn't suit them (GNE in particular) to whoever said give GNE them back. They're welcome to run their own routes any time they like.
My local routes are ran by Arriva Blyth, and their app (until recently) was a god send. Not having to wait at a bus stop wondering if the bus was going to arrive is a thing of the past and how many people now a days carries much money around with them. I do not think I have paid anything in cash for about 3 to 4 month now.
We are in 2020 now, and both the things mentioned should be just standard, unfortunately for passengers of routes operated by GCT, they just dont have it - which is a shame, but this is also where Nexus need to step up to the plate.