(16 Dec 2022, 9:39 pm)mb134 wrote I think the whole "let's brand everything" is done. While I don't think they're the only companies with financial issues by a long shot, we are seeing cash issues with GNE and Transdev. As you suggest, those in the Ten Percent Club spent the past few years shouting from the rooftops about how branding is the key to recovery - surely if that was the case then GNE and Transdev would be flush with cash. 

I do think the X-Lines idea in principal was good but became somewhat messy, similar to the rollout of Arriva's MAX and Sapphire. I also wonder how good the initial business case was behind some of the routes that were converted, given how quickly they were dropped? After that though, things like Sunderland District, East Durham Explorer etc... Ultimately it all comes down to the old MD, and the question of if they were the right fit for that situation. Horses for courses and all that. 

There seems to be a change of approach with Featham, or at least a recognition of the situation the company is in. Cutting say £675k/year (using UK average wage - I doubt many will be that high though) in wages will definitely help balance some of it I reckon. Looking at LinkedIn he's bringing in folk from his time at Arriva to help as "Business Improvement Managers", evidently wants people he can trust to go and do the dirty work. You'd think that network changes will follow, but I imagine they'll want to do it properly if they are going to make huge changes - and that sort of project will require a fairly large chunk of data and a good few months of planning as a minimum. We'll probably see other changes across the business to start off with, beginning with these staff cuts and the rumoured selling off of the coaches. 

I think growth, in any company truth be told, is a little way off. Driver shortages need to be addressed, then there'll need to be growth in confidence from the travelling public. To get growth to anywhere near pre-Covid there'll also need to be frequency improvements, which will likely involve investment in the fleet given most companies have reduced fleet size over the last couple of years. 

Reducing fleet size has gone on for years. I'd argue it's not done anything other than weaken operations.

It's almost like a tory austerity dogma. Cut, cut and cut some more and assume there's growth to be made at some point.
And if there's not. Cut again.

It can't continue. Something has to stop and I hope that growth you mention, happens soon. For the sake of those who don't drive and those who see public transport as a lifeline to the outside world.