There’s much talk of the ‘race to the bottom’ and, if you look at council contracts, then it’s true.
Some councils bemoan the lack of bidders, but canny operators wisely don’t want to be drawn into a bidding war that sees them work for next to nothing, or worse, at a loss.
The result is that poor quality operators win contracts, which either get thrown back when the going gets tough, or simply don’t deliver a good service, letting people down.
In the past, small operators would have a mix of work: Day trips, holidays, private hire plus some local bus routes which, usually being in rural areas, were tendered.
Altogether, it made for a reasonable business and around the British Isles were plenty of small operators doing a jolly good job. There is an argument to say this is still possible.
The flip side is plenty of examples – most famously Sprit Buses which ran to Alnwick – proving that when concessionary travel reimbursement rates are pathetically low and costs increasing, the financial circle cannot be made.
Another relatively recent casualty, also doing what in might be called ‘community transport’ except that its bus services were open to all, was Skipton-based Pennine Motors. This hit the same trouble. Both were good operators, both are now closed.
Are there any survivors? If you are, please let us know.
