(31 Mar 2024, 12:31 pm)Andreos1 wrote The challenge with that, is getting the people in to replace them? Who do you get?

The 'professionals' currently working within the main operators aren't exactly showing the skillset required. I'd certainly not have any confidence in them suddenly turning around years of incompetence and decision making that sees years on years of failing numbers, to then turn it on under a different employer/provision. 

There's the queries around the competence of those in Nexus and the various transport quangos. 

I think that just leaves the sane amongst us on this forum to step in.

Personally I think it's a right minefield and they shouldn't do it. They keep comparing to the likes of Manchester and TFL but neither are comparable as they're completely urban networks. 

It's all easy to do routes like the 39/40 and 62/63 in Newcastle. It's not so easy to do the likes of Middleton on Tees to Barnard Castle.

The area is way too big for franchising imo. Not to mention who wants a big block of routes based at places like that. Like just looking at Northumberland other than Arriva are Ashington there's no real major depot anywhere North of the place.

Those type of routes would only run well under a completely public network imo.

Added: Also to add where's this money going to come from considering GNE and Arriva are both making losses currently and they're not going to be taking on massive contracts to make 50p and a fag packet.