(14 Jun 2022, 8:10 am)Adrian wrote There's also the argument, that operators such as Gateshead Central, run their bus division 100% on contracts and subsidies.
There's no redistribution of their profit into trying to run any commercial services, yet theres nothing stopping them.
As much as I dislike the current model of the public sector being left to pick up the pieces, I don't think banning operators from bidding is the answer, nor will it achieve value for money for the local authority and the customer base.
I do however think that there needs to be recognition that the current model is unsustainable. Without going down the route of franchising, the funding available is going to be finite. Yet the danger of Arriva and Stagecoach seeing Nexus pick up the pieces big time here, is likely to make them want a slice of that pie themselves. This could very quickly become a vicious circle.
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The main thing stopping GCT running commercial in gateshead in GNE. I'm sure you've heard of bargain bus!