(24 Feb 2023, 10:09 am)Adrian wrote Have you any evidence of the (or any) local authority providing inaccurate figures? It'd be criminal matter as it's fraud and deception, never mind the operators needing to walk away.
Regarding the 840, I think the point being made is why isn't it standing on it's own two feet, if all this Best Impressions product branding is as good as his network of friends suggest it is? If it's not bringing in footfall, then what are the tangible benefits from spending fortunes on branding buses and creating a 'luxury' interior? It's not Ray Stenning's fault, but at some stage he needs to back up his ideology of customer experience with a measurable outcome.
I'd assume any operator worth their salt would have done some due-diligence on any route.
Tender, council provided data or anything else.
It's just incompetence otherwise.
(23 Feb 2023, 4:58 pm)DeltaMan wrote What if the local authority puts clauses in contracts allowing operators to walk away if the council has provided inaccurate passenger and revenue data during the tender process. Or if inflation exceeded the amount stated in the contract. Should Transdev just lump it?
I'd also argue the Malton/Whitby leg is not viable under any operating model without a hefty subsidy. It will be costing Transdev around £150 on each round trip between Malton and Whitby. So, unless there are a lot of Heartbeat fans around and NYCC suddenly have a generous ENCTS reimbursement then they'll never get close to that on most days. But yeah, it's Ray Stennings fault
I'm not sure anyone said it was.
There were comments around the fixation and reliance on his ideologies.
Not just within the Coastliner series of routes, but across other Transdev operating areas.
We are told that his ideologies create desire. Where is that desire? Where are the passengers who flock to his vehicles?
If there aren't any (such as on the Whitby to Malton section) - then I begin to wonder what the cost benefit actually is.
If there is a population of people and they're not drawn to the vehicles or routes - then I again wonder, what the cost benefit is.