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Have the total and ongoing costs of franchising in Manchester been revealed?

The mayor commented that NX receives £50 million a year in subsidies in his comments about night buses not being "economically viable". 
He always seems to criticise NX as if they're the only operator in the West Midlands.
Surely a similar amount or more will need to be paid under franchising? Does he think companies will run services for free?

The new electrics on the 33 have 12 seats fewer than the E400s they replace. At the current frequency that's 60 lost seats per hour. Or to put it another way, you need around 6 electrics to carry roughly the same amount of people as 5 E400s. That's a big difference, so I don't agree with the statement that a few extra seats won't make much difference.

I don't use the 33 but my local route (23) is already overcrowded in the evening peak from city, and the loss of 10-12 seats per bus on that route would make a big difference.

What's the point of buying buses with less seats,meaning more passengers trying to stand,then being turfed off because the bus can't move 🤔 

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/most-dangerous-bus-service-west-29868187
Some Stats about Bus Routes with the moat amount of Crime reported on assuming the normal 11 is the PN11 between Walsall and Dudley which has more Crime than the outer Circle, the WN59 is fourth and a surprising inclusion is the WA37 assuming they don't mean the 37 that is now the 4 in Birmingham. That is I think seventh,

If any of the Darlaston routes would have have crime I would have maybe expected the 34 going through Rough Hag although it has calmed down a lot over recent years there is still people getting robbed down there. But the 37 does pass through Bentley and Lodge Farm I guess and deals with the Willenhall Comp Kids who used to cause issues on the Thandi 37.

Not included are the WA29, WB80/87/82 heard they can be bad, WN11 as it passes through Underhill, WA51/X51 that used to be bad from what I can remember more the 51 than the X51

Any other routes people are surprised not to see on the list

If the above is "true", does this mean the Safer Travel Team will be more visible?

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/uyh1jA5iduqc7GUC/

More about the future of the West Midlands bus network.

Old castle brom routes to kingshurst / coleshill

Brings back memories,but parents took me on the 55 more 

Birmingham to Coleshill every 15 mins on a Saturday night. Wow.

And to Nuneaton.

A Go Ahead bus drove into a house in East London on 18th May 2024.

Location: Claughton Road, East Ham
Route: 5 Canning Town - Romford
Bus Type: New Borismaster
Flt No: LT 411
Reg: LTZ 1411

House cctv shows it attempting a manoeuvre,then,apparently loosing control.

News report on ITV London.

https://www.cityam.com/chinas-byd-nears-deal-to-supply-londons-electric-double-decker-buses/

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/black-country/75-million-being-spent-keeping-29170331?utm_source=linkCopy&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

I take it the mayor doesn't like NX Bus.

If certain services are being subsided because they unprofitable but deemed essential,surely similar amounts will need to be spent under franchising.

If services are increased or introduced under franchising and struggle to break even,how could this be value for money?

Is he aware of subsidies being paid in other areas of the country to keep services running?

Coventry Road services,mainly into town will no doubt be delayed because of a police incident by Clay Lane/Coventry Road,Yardley. Traffic backing up to the Wheatsheaf Sheldon.

Stagecoach is going to start running a football special service for villa home games "AV82" between new street and VP starting the next game against wolves.
 
https://x.com/AVFCSupport/status/1773326673611735498?s=20

Wonder if other local coach or bus companies were interested but were outbid, if they were asked to express interest.

There were 2 AG 11's broken down opposite each other at their respective stops at the Yew Tree,Yardley at lunchtime today.

Since I've moved to the South West I've noticed how much different it is on the roads. You still get idiots but in general people have alot more respect and consequently I enjoy driving much more. It's not to say everyone that drives in the West Midlands is terrible but I think there's a sizeable amount of people who have a sense of entitlement, that they can do what they want with no consequences. So when they get behind a wheel, how are they gonna behave?. That's why in an accident hotspot areas like inner Birmingham they needs to be bus lane cameras, speed cameras and red lights cameras. Bordesley Circus is awful for red light jumping yet nothing is ever done.

In terms of this accident, I'm glad the bus driver is okay, obviously not his fault. Also the passengers and others involved are okay, must have been scary for all onboard. I too Stu was nervous when travelling on some buses in Birmingham, the X1/X2 that goes through Heybarnes Circus is one of the areas. You can just see a car going through the red light as the bus is going through the island. I'm not a fan of an outside lane bus lane so I'm not sure if the road layout around there is better than it was in terms of safety. Are there bus lanes cameras down there as a deterrent to people as I've read that cars have been seen using the bus lane before?

There is a bus lane camera on the approach to Asda Island,but I've seen minibuses going through as well.

Just seen the video of this, obviously won't post it on here.  Queueing traffic on the inside and middle lanes of the A45 to the island. The bus lane which is the outside lane is clear, bus doing upto the speed limit, a car then decides to venture into the bus lane right in front of the bus, bus driver has no chance to brake.

I really hope nobody is seriously injured, but honestly nothing surprises me about the standard of driving not just in Birmingham but Small Heath in particular. Gotta be thousands without valid licences or disqualified, as there's no driving schools that would teach the standard of driving round there.

Seen the video as well. Shocking. In the event the driver doesn't have insurance, presumably the Motor Insurers Bureau cover the bus repairs?