It is noteworthy that the TC's decision differentiates between the vexatious complaints (presumably made to the Traffic Commissioner (TC)) by a single individual, then passed to Stagecoach for investigation to allow them to mount a defence) and "actual travelling passengers". This would appear that the Deputy TC is satisfied by Stagecoach's investigation, otherwise she would have stated her dissatisfaction with the response.
Inference can also be drawn that there was satisfaction with the "excuse", given the quoting of a letter from the local authority. Whilst not exactly in support, it does bolster Stagecoach's reasoning.
Although the decision just says "a database source" without specifying which, we have generally assumed it probably is bustimes, as the seemingly most well-known source of said information, even if it was designed, according to the site owner and designer in past media interviews, mostly for the public. Many, if not all of us here, will know that it tracks the ticket machine, not the bus. We've all had occasions where there is a GPS error, a tracking failure, two or more vehicles tracking under the same machine, the wrong trip logged, an emergency code being used, the machine going to sleep and bouncing locations... none of which will show properly. We've also had occasions where the operators have been caught bang to rights. Unfortunately, there are some out there who haven't yet worked out this difference. *
That single complainant may have been pleased to see Stagecoach hauled before the TC, but all that will have happened is their complaints will now generally be regarded as vexatious (and ignored) both by the TC and the operator, and any 'real' complaints they may have be ignored - especially if data can be produced to say (along the lines of "yes, we can prove the bus ran because we issued 5 tickets on the journey, but it seems there was a GPS error" or "here is a log from our internal system, we ran the service without logging on the machine because the service was so delayed on a previous journey owing to horrendous four-way temporary traffic lights on the biggest road in town we didn't feel it appropriate to charge"). It is, of course, important that operators obey the rules, and many stretch resources to the limit to do so, but ultimately, in a (personal) heirarchy of importance, I'd rather the TC investigate serious maintenance failings and breaches of drivers hours rules than my local bus only running 85% of the time (however annoying that is in the moment).
The referenced to the 685 only being operated with double-decked vehicles is curious - could some complaints from "actual travelling passengers" have been overloading and resultant inability to board?
* I used to commute to work with someone who always used to complain that the tracking service provided by the company "always jumps from one end of the tunnel to the other, and then I have to rush to leave work". Despite clearly being good at her highly detail-oriented job, she could never quite grasp that GPS doesn't work underground!
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