Manchester bus franchising

[Mayneway]

RE: Manchester bus franchising

(25/01/2023 22:26)Barney Wrote:  You seem to have missed something: the rules have changed. Do you really think that if Stagecoach adopted a scorched earth policy it would benefit it in any way in the future round of bids?

Yes, I am very much in favour of franchising, not just in the TfGM area but also across the UK. As to why Diamond has pulled their "most profitable routes" I have no idea and don't need to explain that decision. Perhaps you can.

The rules haven’t charged yet. They change in one area in September. It’s no secret that several operators are unhappy with who’s won what, and the withdrawal of one of their busiest most profitable services 8 months before they are forced to hand everything over to another operator it is seen as a way of running things down while TFGM can only look on.
I’m no cynic but as a time served driver in Manchester with years of watching TFGM miserably fail at things the whole network in their hands will be a disaster. They have spent years running down the bus network with a fixation on the tram network. Sadly there will be two big losers in all this, the regular bus user and us council tax payers who will all be forced to stump up more money to keep it going.