(05 Nov 2020, 1:00 am)streetdeckfan wrote I also think having buses being nationalised is a horrific idea. All it does is give the monopoly to the government rather than a private company. Then it'll go from it being all about profit, to it costing as little as possible to run. At least when you're doing it for profit, there's an incentive to improve the service. When you're running something as a 'public service', it just has to fulfil the bare minimum of being able to move people around, anything beyond that is a waste.
Just look how much nicer the buses are up here compared to likes of London!
Whilst 'profit' isn't a dirty word, the pursuit of it also encourages cost cutting (maybe even corner cutting, since we're on the Gateshead Central thread....). 'Public Service' doesn't necessarily have to be the bare minimum at all. I wouldn't class the services and facilities on offer at my local hospital, for example, as being the 'bare minimum'. In regards to London, yes it comes at a cost but I'm sure Londoners are happier with their network ticketing and coverage as opposed to laminate flooring and disco lights.
RE: Gateshead Central Taxis