(Yesterday, 8:48 pm)Economic505 wrote You were upset about Northstar losing the 599 to GCT, but now seem bothered about GCT not winning the 32/32A? . GCT were much cheaper than Northstar, but now you question SNE’s higher costs than GCT. The best option IMO is that the no services ever go to the cowboys of Gateshead.
They are two completely different situations.
GCT was only marginally cheaper than Northstar for the 599 tender, as Northstar have operated it for longer than 12 months. Stagecoach lost the 32/32A to GCT last year and this year, but have ended up with it back, which costs more (I'm not sure how much difference between the bids in either case).
I think Northstar losing the 599 to GCT will probably result in a decline in passenger numbers as some customers intentionally choose the Northstar service over the alternatives. Very likely the same result with the 32/32A if GCT had taken on those services, as Stagecoach tickets wouldn't be valid on them. My point was that for two consecutive years GCT have won the contract to operate the 32/32A, and still don't have the drivers or buses at the second opportunity. Particularly strange there was already talk of Stagecoach putting EVs on the 32/32A before the Nexus tenders went out, suggesting it was likely a foregone conclusion they were keeping it.