robertclark125
Established Member
Back in 2002, Mcgills, which then only ran the ex Arriva operations in Greenock and Inverclyde, had been on a spate of acquisition and expansion, and had hoovered up nearly all local competitiors. One remained, Harte Buses, run by Peter Harte. It ran one route, the 602 Greenock - Midton - Trumpethill, though a second route, to Braehead was launched during 2003.
Harte was well respected, and had never suffered competition from Clydeside/Arriva, in fact having good relations with them. But, in 2002, Mcgills launched a new rival 602 service, running to the same frequency, but 2 minutes ahead of Harte.
http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/articles/2/2190
The public support Harte had was incredible. In fact, a public demonstration was held at Greenock bus station in Octboer that year, supporting Harte and opposing Mcgills. Harte, in fact, had retained over 85% of his custom, but, the costs incurred in keeping that custom put his service at a loss, and the inevitable happened in 2004.
http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/articles/1/5113
Now, some ten years or so on, do people remember this bus war, and the outcome? Remember that, seemingly, Mcgills were running round with one or two passengers, compared to the larger numbers, circa 15 or 16, with Harte, per bus (these are estimate figures), and Mcgills were losing money. So, it begs the question, given the fact the competition commission had wanted more competition on the buses, in reality, surely any big group firm could run a new service rivalling a small firm, and keep running it, losing money, until it got to the stage where both were losing money, and the smaller firm had to give in, because of what the competition commission wanted to see?
Harte was well respected, and had never suffered competition from Clydeside/Arriva, in fact having good relations with them. But, in 2002, Mcgills launched a new rival 602 service, running to the same frequency, but 2 minutes ahead of Harte.
http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/articles/2/2190
The public support Harte had was incredible. In fact, a public demonstration was held at Greenock bus station in Octboer that year, supporting Harte and opposing Mcgills. Harte, in fact, had retained over 85% of his custom, but, the costs incurred in keeping that custom put his service at a loss, and the inevitable happened in 2004.
http://www.greenocktelegraph.co.uk/articles/1/5113
Now, some ten years or so on, do people remember this bus war, and the outcome? Remember that, seemingly, Mcgills were running round with one or two passengers, compared to the larger numbers, circa 15 or 16, with Harte, per bus (these are estimate figures), and Mcgills were losing money. So, it begs the question, given the fact the competition commission had wanted more competition on the buses, in reality, surely any big group firm could run a new service rivalling a small firm, and keep running it, losing money, until it got to the stage where both were losing money, and the smaller firm had to give in, because of what the competition commission wanted to see?
