(27 Jul 2024, 5:17 am)DeltaMan wrote Only if Government money is forthcoming and given how local authorities have been spending transport money up here, I'd be giving the North East a wide berth if I was Rachel Reeves

I suppose it's what happens, when you're spending money without any real say in the options available. Sure, the Enhanced Partnership has brought in the TNE tickets (which are great!), but it's largely being used to splash money up the wall on services that operators cut some 18 months to 2 years earlier. 

If it was cut because it wasn't working, I don't understand why you'd try and resolve it by throwing money at it, rather than trying something different. The operators certainly won't do it with their cash, so why should it be different with public cash.

Interestingly, from the report that is going to NECA Cabinet next week, it states that "The estimate is that approximately 43% of bus operator income during 2022/23 is directly attributable to public sector funding streams. This funding includes secured service payments (14% of total), concessionary travel reimbursement (17% of total), some coronavirus recovery support (5% of total), as well as BSOG and reimbursement for the £2 fare cap. This figure is consistent with pre-pandemic levels – public sector support in the North East was 40% in 2018/19 - as well as similar analysis conducted in other regions."

That is a lot of money to give to someone, without any real say in how it operates.