(24 Nov 2020, 1:25 pm)streetdeckfan wrote Personally, I think it's less of them not wanting to run the evening buses and more of them taking advantage of the fact that those services are essential and the councils will pay to have them run. Until recently that wasn't really an 'issue' for the passengers, or even widely known about, but when GCT started to undercut GNE and take the evening services away from them it brought it under the spotlight. I'm not saying it's an ethical thing to do, but I can't say I wouldn't do the same thing if I was in their shoes.
As for the re-engining, it depends on how you look at it.
If you have an older vehicle that's worth say £15-20k and to put a new efficient engine in is going to cost another £15k, you're instantly going to think it's not worth bothering with. But if that vehicle is otherwise fine, and you can get another 5 years out of it (probably the best part of £50k in payments on a new StreetDeck/E400) and save some fuel in the process, suddenly it looks a lot more appealing.
Plus, GNE are looking at replacing the engine and hybrid drivetrain in the B5Hs, so if the trial vehicle ever comes back and it turns out well, we may see more of that in the future.
It has been an issue for years.
Well before GCT even came about as an operator. They saw the opportunity to get in there and took advantage.
Classic and Stanley (before the takeover primarily) were running Nexus contracted stuff 20 odd years back.
OK had contracted work before their takeover too.
This isn't a new thing at all.
I'd argue that the issue of day tickets/passes has highlighted the problem, but this was the case as long ago as ANE operating the Washington locals on an evening. That must be getting on 10 years ago.
RE the engine/drivetrain stuff. I forgot about the B5LH. It would be interesting to see how that goes and the impact (financial or otherwise). Appreciate we won't get to see figures, but if it was a positive impact - I'd hazard a guess it would be rolled out across those vehicles.
(24 Nov 2020, 1:28 pm)Jamie M wrote End of life vehicles are very rarely worth more than a few thousand in scrap
I don't think we're disagreeing. There's a whole argument about the destructive price-war tendering scheme I can rant on about, it's all related.
We need a lot more than PLCs to change, in order for our public transport model to be fit for purpose.
Re-regulation
