(23 Jul 2025, 2:38 pm)col87 wrote I think the solution is simple really. The local authorities own the routes but instead of the bus companies getting paid to operate services they pay the local authority to operate routes. The company then keeps any profits they make. Think of it as similar to sport or movie rights what TV channels pay for you can give them profitable routes like the 36, but to get the 36 they have to operate less profitable routes as well. That’s just one idea, it would obviously need to be done by government but I think that’s one solution. Yes the big companies like Stagecoach and Go North east might kick up a fuss to try get things to change but they would likely go along with it to stop smaller companies getting a foothold.
The better way to do it is have a state owned company bidding for the same contracts. You can then set how much you want to pay by putting in a bid for your own work, if someone can beat it then it's win as the tax payer is better off, if not then the public company runs it instead of the private operators taking the piss.
It's the best of both worlds and forces the public owned company to get it's act together rather than being complacant. If it was allowed, there's technically nothing stopping them taking stuff on abroad either like SNCF, DB Regio and the likes do.
It's what Norway does pretty much.