(13 Jun 2022, 10:37 pm)stagecoachbusdepot wrote Except it is not such a polarised choice. There is a perfectly sensible solution which has been described on here not so long ago, whereby if the previous commercial operator doesn't want to take the commercial risk, but wants to bid for an identical tendered service, then this should be on the basis of a block payment with all fare revenue retained by the funding authority. Any profits made could then be reinvested into other public services, or further secured services, and not simply line shareholders pockets. I'm not sure there's any legal way in which an incumbent could be prevented from bidding, or that it would be in anyone's interest to do so as you point out they may ultimately submitted the best VFM tender.I'd be intrested to know if you had the same opinion of Spirit Buses when they gave up thier commercial routes?
To be honest while we have the current basketcase system whereby an operator can cancel any borderline service then submit a low tender to operate basically the same service, collecting the same level of fares as before, but now plus the shiny extra bit of dosh they get from their tender, why would any operator show any social responsibility and not rinse the taxpayer.
RE: Go North East: Major Service Changes July 2022