(24 Dec 2023, 1:20 pm)Andreos1 wrote I had a small, initial involvement in it at the beginning and it was doomed to fail when it became clear there was going to be no joined up thinking across the region. 

Operators were going after their own individual and unique systems like a greedy schoolboy after some sweets. 
Even more attractive once they knew there would be continued uplifts attached to the 6/7 figure grants and ultimately, very minimal investment on their part.

Maybe Nexus could have encouraged greater discussion, maybe they could have been stronger. 
But there's no way they could have insisted the operators should not apply for their own system and subsequently, physically stop them.

Aye that's fair must admit I'm not aware of the earlier rounds. I just never understood how the NE done so badly whereas everywhere else got some form of system from the same money. 

Who knows, it's probably a combination of greedy operators and a weak PTE let's be honest. 

I must admit I never understand why there's a bus combined group up here, forgot it's name. Surely thats the point of Nexus. Imo for Nexus and the TNE to succeed the Metro needs spun off from them with it's own team completely or alternatively Nexus is abolished in terms of PTE duties and become the Metro operator only, with TNE taking control of Nexus duties, same again why is there two anyway..? With both Northumberland and Durham becoming part of the super PTE so we can manage investment regionwide.

I'm not aware of any plans for that though.