Nexus Quality Contracts are go

[JoNi]

Nexus have apparently rubber stamped Quality Contracts according to an article in the Sunderland Echo webpage http://m.sunderlandecho.com/news/business/sunderland-bus-services-shake-up-gets-the-green-light-1-6908350
Interesting times ahead!

[winston]

In light of that decision, I wonder if Mr Souter will now carry out his threat & close down Busways & exit Newcastle???

The quality contracts decision will hurt Stagecoach the most as Busways is one of highest earners with circa 20%+ profit margins

[PM]

In light of that decision, I wonder if Mr Souter will now carry out his threat & close down Busways & exit Newcastle???

The quality contracts decision will hurt Stagecoach the most as Busways is one of highest earners with circa 20%+ profit margins

There's been a lot in the local news about it recently and on buses that run into the Nexus area. It must be said that Stagecoach and Go Ahead are by far the most vocal in opposing it... Arriva are more quiet.

[winston]

In light of that decision, I wonder if Mr Souter will now carry out his threat & close down Busways & exit Newcastle???

The quality contracts decision will hurt Stagecoach the most as Busways is one of highest earners with circa 20%+ profit margins

There's been a lot in the local news about it recently and on buses that run into the Nexus area. It must be said that Stagecoach and Go Ahead are by far the most vocal in opposing it... Arriva are more quiet.

More analysis here:
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f8f4afe2-5940-11e4-a33c-00144feab7de.html#axzz3GovESAOH
http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/oct/21/tyne-wear-deregulation-bus

On the subject of Go-Ahead Group, they appear to be looking at Singapore for further expansion of the groups bus activities
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/e74f99fe-5937-11e4-a33c-00144feab7de.html#axzz3GovESAOH

[ade]

will Centro do it?

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/oct/21/tyne-wear-deregulation-bus

[Bob]

Its not nationalisation at all! Nexus wont be operating the buses. What you mean is regulation?  Of course the private profiteers are up in arms.....

[the trainbasher]

Bad call I think because for Newcastle it'll be back to what some would describe as the "bad old days" of no buses whatsoever between Gateshead and Newcastle. Instead nexus are more obsessed with metro that once quality contracts are in, the passenger's will suffer.

When I went to Newcastle earlier this year I found the bus situation better than how centro runs it. And there wasn't many of "cowboy operators" and more competition between the 3 grouped operators. Competition that worked.

What's needed is SQPs similar to what centro have with the operators. Never quality partnerships.

In fact I would go so far as to say I think London needs to move with the times and scrap regulation. And allow bus operators to have led displays too. But that's for another topic.

[ade]

Stagecoach official response -

http://m.stagecoach.com/media/news-releases/2014/2014-10-21.aspx