(07 Oct 2024, 8:27 am)streetdeckfan wrote It feels like they've just given up and are just 'doing an Arriva' and just running everything into the ground, I've been out of the loop for a while so would that be a fair statement to make?
It's certainly how it's looking from an outsider perspective, changed from a strategy focused on customer perception and increasing standards to one focused on maximising utilisation at the least expense in quite a short space of time, which to be fair is understandable from a new MD coming in at a time of financial losses. It's like they've gone straight from one extreme to the other rather than finding the middle ground, though difficult decisions will have been needed to balance the books again. Previous history of the current MD is irrelevant to that, any incoming MD would have had to look at it, if big head office say to balance the books then you balance the books.
Unfortunately the decline in passengers is one of those things the industry will struggle to shake off, and I'm glad I've moved away from that side of it now. Ultimately, passengers want a 5 minute turn up and go frequency giving direct links from their housing area to each individual retail park/employment site/leisure facility, not going around the houses, and will grumble at being asked £5.30 for a single fare for a 17 mile long journey (pre fare cap) whilst they're wearing an £80 shirt, £130 trainers, and are about to go pay £6 per pint on an afternoon out without any second thought.