(29 Nov 2022, 6:16 pm)L469 YVK wrote Ok saying years of data, but bearing in mind what's been happening the last two years plus the current situation:
- Dead mileage
- Driver shortages and costs of rectifying including agency staff
- Long term upkeep of fleet required
- Risk of losing evening & Sunday work
- Bus recovery grants coming to an end
Fair enough if the data supports it. But if not, are Arriva going to go to the effort to find drivers to fill the gaps plus the costs associated, when they can scale back, all issues resolved and still make money carrying a rammed double decker into Newcastle from Blyth, Ashington or up the Coast Road.
Does the fact that they're splashing out on agency drivers to fulfill service not imply that the services are deemed important enough to justify that cost?
You could have these arguments about any routes - the 21 and X21 have increased dead mileage now compared to when operated from CLS, coupled with a driver shortage and "long term upkeep of fleet" (would like to see any bus company that doesn't have expenses for fleet maintenance...). Are GNE going to bin them off? Obviously not.