West midlands bus franchising

[Stu]

Yet another idiot councillor who thinks franchising will make fares cheaper.

It may improve many things, but one thing it won't do is reduce fares!

West Midlands bus system branded 'broken, unreliable and unaffordable (msn.com)

I'm pretty sure that Cllr Akhtar has never been anywhere near a bus.

"The whole system is broken, we mostly rely on the Government to fund us and it was always at the last minute when we'd get that funding. The buses are not reliable and they are not even affordable. The buses are crucial to our economy, to our community, tackle air pollution and congestion but we are in a mess.

"As far as this year's budget, we have balanced the budget. Now it is up to us as politicians. We have a deregulated system which always sees money going to shareholders rather than putting back into the system and having a safeguarded network."

My emphasis in bold. Buses are much more affordable than trains or taxis are.

And as for money going to shareholders, I don't think either of NX (Mobico) or Stagecoach have paid out dividends to shareholders for a couple of years now. Besides, what profits are being made are being invested back into the company through purchase of new vehicles etc.

These socialists just don't like the idea of private businesses being successful.

[PhageyMcPhage]

Thatcher wasn't a socialist and she didn't dare to deregulate London.

[BlackCountryBusSpotter]

It has come out tonight he has ordered a review into the Public Transport including delays yet more scrapping including the Tram to Brierley Hill (Merry Hill is in Brierley Hill) Aldridge could be scrapped and the Camp Hill Line. Hopefully he realises he doesn't need to Franchise the buses and just scrap all Tram extensions do we really need the Tram to the Birmingham Airport when Sprint and oh let's not forget the Train going there to link up with HS2 (If that ever happens). Do we need the Tram down the Hagley Road. Guided Busway to Merry Hill or improve the roads.

Hopefully this means Buses do not to be Franchised. Can NX do anything and even Diamond to stop the Franchising ie affects income, affects there Profits and could also affect Route reliability and even sustainability. Ie I mentioned it in the past the evening 37 from Willenhall to Walsall or the 310 or other routes that are possibly vital to the public.

We do not need Franchising unless NX reliability falls of a cliff or gets into Finacial trouble so then falls under Public Ownership or sold off its assets to say Go Ahead. All we need to do is protect tendered Bus routes, stop building pointless Tram extensions and improve the infrastructure for buses to better

[uniquicity]

Sad times, they are scrapping paragraphs too

[Stu]

Mayor's plans to bring West Midland buses under public control raises concerns
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/mayors-plans-bring-west-midland-29644038

[Straightlines]

Mayor's plans to bring West Midland buses under public control raises concerns
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/mayors-plans-bring-west-midland-29644038

More clickbait nonsense from the local rag.

[Stu]

More clickbait nonsense from the local rag.

I take it you didn't actually read the article then?

[Steve3229vp]

I take it you didn't actually read the article then?

I would say he didn't!

The articles content has appeared elsewhere quite widely.

[Rachvince53]

More clickbait nonsense from the local rag.

No its completely true. The new mayor pledged this in his election manifesto. I believe that national government also want to introduce franchising across the country.

[woody38]

I think franchising could work, it is starting to work in Manchester, I unlike many on here do not like NXWM. I understand that footfall on many routes is down but don't like how they blackmail the mayor into giving them money.
I know a few people who used the Commuter Services into London they where axed with hardly any notice, a least one had to give up there job in London,  the difference between the prices of a coach & train ticket was so great, it meant they where spending nearly as much on travel as they where earning. Not a good way to treat anyone.

[Tony]

I think franchising could work, it is starting to work in Manchester, I unlike many on here do not like NXWM. I understand that footfall on many routes is down but don't like how they blackmail the mayor into giving them money.
I know a few people who used the Commuter Services into London they where axed with hardly any notice, a least one had to give up there job in London,  the difference between the prices of a coach & train ticket was so great, it meant they where spending nearly as much on travel as they where earning. Not a good way to treat anyone.

There's no 'blackmailing for money' NXWM hasn't made a profit for a few years, so the money all goes towards keeping the services running.  It's nice how you also expect them to run the commuter services at a loss. It's noticeable no other coach company has tried to take the Medway services on which tells you they were completely unsustainable 

[j789]

I think franchising could work, it is starting to work in Manchester, I unlike many on here do not like NXWM. I understand that footfall on many routes is down but don't like how they blackmail the mayor into giving them money.
I know a few people who used the Commuter Services into London they where axed with hardly any notice, a least one had to give up there job in London,  the difference between the prices of a coach & train ticket was so great, it meant they where spending nearly as much on travel as they where earning. Not a good way to treat anyone.

Also it wasn't that long ago Diamond were threatening to withdraw all their West Midlands commercial services as they were all losing money. Join up the dots Woody and you see that most commercial routes now are not profit making.

Now do some maths: if currently all these routes are loss making, if franchising was to come in then the companies running them would expect perhaps a 4-5% profit on running them. Therefore, what ever % monetary loss those routes currently have has to then have this additional 4-5% added to the cost to make it the franchise package attractive to companies. And the mayor seems to think he would increase frequencies on these routes too adding even more costs. It's complete madness but, as usual, it's other people's money so Labour won't care.

So you are probably talking at least a 10% or more increase in costs to the tax payer to fund this franchising. Of course, plonkers like Burnham, or the Labour Party as a whole, will never admit to this reality that franchising will actually increase costs to tax payers for pretty much the same service we have now.

[Rachvince53]

And if they do then like any party coming into office, they will simply blame the last government/mayor.

[Stu]

No its completely true. The new mayor pledged this in his election manifesto. I believe that national government also want to introduce franchising across the country.

You didn't read the article either then!


I wish people would just look beyond the headline and actually read the article, then you'll see why I shared it...

I would say he didn't!

The articles content has appeared elsewhere quite widely.

Has it though?

[Jay71]

Will franchising really work?  I think not.  The 42, 43, 31 & 32 used to be joint operations. How long did that last?   Not very long