Heartlands etc.

[Steveminor]

I don't think an hourly service down the walsall rd would have started a bus war, Arriva run the sutton brum corridor with their 110 every 20 mins & nx haven't seen the need to retaliate

[Bob]

Plus the X31 would have had cannock to walsall passengers had it gone down the a34, they cpuld have tied it in with reducing some 1 trips

[Tony]

Doesnt mean public sector is bad.  Just shows private firms dont give a s##t about their employees.  Just money

So that's why National Express are the first major transport firm, beating all those public sector ones to sign up to actually pay every employee the 'living wage' as opposed to minimum wage.

NXWM will be doing this from 1/1/16

[Bob]

The living wage is still low. One that alot of people would have to claim tax credit with. I bet a public sector firm wouldstill pay mmore

[the trainbasher]

@Bob public sector pay more than private companies. What dodgy gear are you on?

I work in the public sector and if i was to be doing my job in the private sector I could earn 17.2% more, albeit with less job security.

[PM]

The living wage is still low. One that alot of people would have to claim tax credit with. I bet a public sector firm wouldstill pay mmore

That's clearly not true though as Tony has just said! There are even certain councils, never mind council bus operations, who don't pay the living wage. Yes you can argue about the level of living wage etc but you can't argue a council or council firm would pay more when that just isn't true.

Private firms do care about their staff as ultimately that is in their interests, to have staff who are happy at work and provide good customer service.

People arguing for public ownership forget a couple of key things. Yes, the company is run in their interests for profit. However that profit is essentially the same thing as having fares that are sustainable, a good level of service, happy staff, newer vehicles with lower maintenance costs. So profit always co-incides with public interest and a profit driven approach to public transport has led to far more innovation and marketing than would occur under a re-regulated set up.

[Bob]

Really? Profit means a modern low maintenance fleet etc? So remind me, at deregulation,  in 1986, when the PTE had a modern average 12 yr fleet, under public ownership,  how many 17/8/9 year old buses were they running. And @ Trainbasher, a tory working in the public sector?  The irony! Vote for em lol theyll obliterate your job next probably. ...

[the trainbasher]

Really? Profit means a modern low maintenance fleet etc? So remind me, at deregulation,  in 1986, when the PTE had a modern average 12 yr fleet, under public ownership,  how many 17/8/9 year old buses were they running. And @ Trainbasher, a tory working in the public sector?  The irony! Vote for em lol theyll obliterate your job next probably. ...

Well bob I'm sorry to say your labour chums tried to obliterate my job but failed.

[winston]

Really? Profit means a modern low maintenance fleet etc? So remind me, at deregulation,  in 1986, when the PTE had a modern average 12 yr fleet, under public ownership,  how many 17/8/9 year old buses were they running. And @ Trainbasher, a tory working in the public sector?  The irony! Vote for em lol theyll obliterate your job next probably. ...

Bob the NXWM fleet average age is circa 8 years even with 17-19 year old buses, once the 171 new buses are all delivered & older ones withdrawn if will be even younger.

[Tony]

Really? Profit means a modern low maintenance fleet etc? So remind me, at deregulation,  in 1986, when the PTE had a modern average 12 yr fleet, under public ownership,  how many 17/8/9 year old buses were they running. And @ Trainbasher, a tory working in the public sector?  The irony! Vote for em lol theyll obliterate your job next probably. ...

I think NX average fleet age is about 8 years.

Now in 1986, I agree with you the oldest buses were 14 year old Leyland Nationals, but go back 9 years to 1977 and WMPTE were running 27 year old buses

[Bob]

Fast forward to 2009 & they were running 27 yr old metrobuses!

[Bob]

Really? Profit means a modern low maintenance fleet etc? So remind me, at deregulation,  in 1986, when the PTE had a modern average 12 yr fleet, under public ownership,  how many 17/8/9 year old buses were they running. And @ Trainbasher, a tory working in the public sector?  The irony! Vote for em lol theyll obliterate your job next probably. ...

Bob the NXWM fleet average age is circa 8 years even with 17-19 year old buses, once the 171 new buses are all delivered & older ones withdrawn if will be even younger.

In 1986 under public ownership they weren't running any 17-19 year old buses...

[winston]

Really? Profit means a modern low maintenance fleet etc? So remind me, at deregulation,  in 1986, when the PTE had a modern average 12 yr fleet, under public ownership,  how many 17/8/9 year old buses were they running. And @ Trainbasher, a tory working in the public sector?  The irony! Vote for em lol theyll obliterate your job next probably. ...

Bob the NXWM fleet average age is circa 8 years even with 17-19 year old buses, once the 171 new buses are all delivered & older ones withdrawn if will be even younger.

In 1986 under public ownership they weren't running any 17-19 year old buses...

Neither will NX this year, as they are all single deckers due for the chop. Then the oldest single deckers will be the 2006 56 plate B7RLE's @ 9 years old

[Dennis]

The living wage is still low. One that alot of people would have to claim tax credit with. I bet a public sector firm wouldstill pay mmore

Rather than making sweeping statements Bob, perhaps you could take ten minutes out of your busy schedule of Arriva bashing (your main pastime?) and do a bit of research for the group?

It might be interesting to see how much local authorities pay their drivers.  Besides operators like Ipswich and Nottingham there are a great number of PCV drivers working for social services transport, school transport, etc.  The comparison would be interesting.

[Steveminor]

Guys I think it's time to end this after all this is supposed to be a heartlands thread