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It doesn’t apply with all authorities. But it is fairly common.

No price increase for duration of contract is a standard ECC term. Central Connect would have known that from their previous operations in Essex, and indeed their due diligence on the Go East Anglia purchase. So whilst it’s a challenge, it’s one they were fully aware of and could/should have...

Apologies. Let me correct that. ‘Should have’ an ability to spell!

Grants only available for less than 20 buses (and even then not 100%). The programming is quite technical- not ‘anybody’ is capable of learning it. Possibly easier for younger generations who are on average more IT savvy - but they also need an ability to spell. And even when ‘anybody’ has...

But franchising is really just tendering. It has acquired a new name (well, actually the wrong name - McDonalds run franchises but if I don’t win one I can still open a burger bar next door!).

More likely that it’s a huge cost. For an independent (or any operator) with 50 buses it’s a cost of £100k-£200k to supply and fit (depending on mix of SD, Dd, and whether fitting is in-house or bought in). That’s a lot of money, and doesn’t include the resource to programme, keep updated, or...

And it was one of the worst performing London operators………actually something of an embarrassment for TfL!

Hmmm. I’ve come across quite a few who don’t !

Correct. And neither are large ones……

They are advertising being open Tuesday-Thursday during August. You can pre-book but we paid on arrival. Same price. Great place.

Really? Surely unlawful and illegal mean the same thing! What part of the 1985 Act or subsequent amendment says that?

No. It suggests they ‘may’ have had a problem (case to be proven at the PI) in the past! That problem may be ongoing, but probably not…..

Proving ‘illegal’ operation based on capacity would certainly be an interesting legal test case. I don’t think it has ever been done before. I’m not even sure on what grounds it would be illegal. Can you advise the relevant legislation please?

You are over-thinking this……

The reimbursement formula is shrouded in mystery, even for operators. However there is no scope for ’government being overcharged’ as each operator agrees a fixed reimbursement amount in advance.

But if people are going to be stuck in the same traffic jam in a bus, you won’t get them out of their cars! Quality is great, but what really matters to people is door to door journey time. The car wins from the home end in most cases. Depending on parking arrangements, it may win at the end of...

Whilst your average taxi driver would disagree, the taxi, and especially private hire industry, has a much lower level of regulation than bus/coach. Indeed, in some areas it is borderline in legal terms!

An operator can’t choose to opt out certain routes. They are either all in, or all out. (There are some exceptions like tourist open top services). That’s the rules for the £3 cap - it is unlikely the new £2 will be different.

Why would old people - or indeed any ‘normal’ customer - need to see it? Or be remotely interested? As you say, it’s for internal use!

Ah right. Surely not very scientific though. How do you factor in the time it takes for a car to give way so the bus can pull out into busy traffic? And a route with a high proportion of ENCTS passholders who may be slower (or faster!) than someone paying? Etc