(23 Apr 2023, 7:50 pm)Adrian wrote Don't know the ins and outs with this one for sure, but I'm presuming that it was because it was a substantial proportion of their business. It's not sustainable in any industry to put all your eggs in one basket like that, as the business is at risk if you lose the work. With some smaller operators solely relying on public sector work, without building their own commercial operation up, it presents a massive risk. Nexus could decide not to run all their contracts at the next round of renewals, then someone like GCT would have a load of drivers with no work.

I've always felt that part of an economically advantageous bid, an operator should be able to present that their work would have an added or wider community benefit than just running the contract to the bare minimum spec. There's no incentive for them to grow the operation or perform well, which has an overall negative impact on bus users across the board.

Aye fair points about it being a risky way to do business but suppose they can feel that they can keep the work, it's a risk worth taking. Mind it's not one I'd take.

The whole system is broken let's be honest as these contracts shouldn't exist at all, especially the sort of routes out for tender nowadays like the 317, 342, 82 etc. It doesn't help that the LA's are skint because of austerity either which means they can't afford to do anything better and to make it worse banned from creating their own bus companies which imo would be cheaper in the long run.

I feel for independents at times since the big boys control everything but if they dare attack them then all hell breaks loose like the 192 Corridor in Manchester bus wars in the 00's which didn't end well or the absolute dog fighting at Scarborough on the open top buses (not sure it's as bad nowadays since GoAhead took it over mind). At the same time though they can just leave communities stranded, take a contract over and then play the old look at what we're doing aren't we nice messaging which is so ironic.

The system needs to change imo, since the tax payer shouldn't be funding suits to run buses badly which is just the worst for everyone and is pretty much where we are nowadays whether it's contracts, BSOG or Covid grants etc. Sadly I wouldn't have much more confidence in the unelected lot running NECA or whatever the name is the week either mind.