(01 Jun 2024, 9:19 am)DeltaMan wrote I certainly think the case for doing something with both GNE and Arriva is there to be made as they are already using public money to prop up the 43/44/45 and 56 services to provide the service level they were doing before the "driver shortage", but with nothing really in return for the tax payer. I fear Stagecoach are just going to be collateral damage for the mismanagement of others.

Honestly totally agreed, it's a shame really. I just have little hope in everything being done by franchising aswell as Gannon and co are bloody awful. It's just going from one extreme to the opposite extreme and the model isn't exactly miles away from the exact same model that's just been scrapped on trains for being a mess.

Not to mention we live in a country who loves a bit of austerity with both parties commiting to it at the next election to some extent. Where's the money going to come from long term to fund this network? I certainly can't see this money coming from central government, you just have to look at the complete lack of interest in actually funding the Metro already and all it takes is someone to cut the Major budget or commit less and the whole thing is snookered.

I'd be interesting to see how much Arriva and GoNorthEast are really losing between them, if you removed Stockton and Darlington from Durham and all the contracted services and freebies which are already being given to them such as the two you mentioned there.