Manchester Community Transport

[knutstransport]

RE: Manchester Community Transport

(23/03/2020 10:50)Mrboo Wrote:  For years MCT has pushed tenders down by bidding on the cheap as not wanting profits to same levels of the big groups but also having a low paid workforce and with a low-cost base that is leased and have midi buses so great for tenders so have a go in cheap and get the tender and TFGM been happy as been able to get more for there money. now issue now is MCT have shown you can`t make tenders work at the rates they went in for and now others are putting in far higher bids but TFGM are like unable to sign off on the tenders as they dont have the money as they been used to MCT rates. There very little TFGM can do they have to pay the real cost of a tenders now.

Or do like most local authorities are doing and reducing the level of service required in the new tenders or not putting a service out-to-tender as well.

I'm sure MCT's original business model was to operate as a not for profit and the idea was any money they may from tendered or commercial services would be used to support community bus schemes which they operated.

To compare MCT with D&G (who are seen as the low cost option for Cheshire East tenders), when MCT ran the 288 an adult single from Altrincham to the Airport was only around £2.20, now under D&G it's around £2.70 and even that £2.70 D&G fare is low compared to what some operators charge or even what D&G charge across the border in Cheshire.