(05/10/2018 12:25)CX06 EBK Wrote:  You can get a full sized bus around the 144, Avon had used their bigger MCVs on occasion. The only real issue is Field Lane but that is an issue in any sized bus, if HTL would have had the buses available they'd have probably been interested in the 144 themselves.

(05/10/2018 12:35)johnluke Wrote:  The sale of the buses to Halton was a sign all was not well

(06/10/2018 15:33)Jw88 Wrote:  Maybe A2B Travel could step in and operate the smaller routes, like the 80, 82, 84/85 And 91

(06/10/2018 11:22)Busguy12 Wrote:  The my ticket I'll agree is a huge issue at the moment, it is abused left right and centre with staff being told you can not challenge the customer about there age unless they are very obvious over age and it's hard to tell at times

(05/10/2018 11:06)Barney Wrote:  I disagree. Like it or not, Stagecoach has a history of squeezing out smaller operators and then taking over the most lucrative assets -in this case the commercial routes - from the former failed operator. Why pay for something when you can get it for free?

(06/10/2018 10:42)knutstransport Wrote:  With GHA I think the main problems were:
1. Starting bus wars on routes where there was already a reasonable level of service in comparison to the number of operators.
2. Trying to be the lowest bidder for council contracts even when there was already other operators in the area submitting low cost bids for contracts e.g. D&G in South Cheshire.
3. Opting to run routes commercially which probably weren't profitable when they lost the contract e.g. 130 Sunday and Bank Holiday service and in some cases registering a route commercially to prevent it going out to tender.

(06/10/2018 20:34)Mayneway Wrote:  GHA inevitably failed because they chose to install a general manager with a Neich for promising big things with his tremendous public transport knowledge and basically making a real hash of things (won't use a stronger word!). I have no doubt that had he not been employed GHA in some guise might still be trading.

(06/10/2018 21:45)CTL45 Wrote:  As someone who had the misfortune to have to deal with the issues created by GHA's operational ineptitude on a daily basis, I can assure you that the die was cast long before the installation of the general manager that I presume you're alluding to, so that's a pretty unfair statement.

(06/10/2018 20:34)Mayneway Wrote:  GHA inevitably failed because they chose to install a general manager with a Neich for promising big things with his tremendous public transport knowledge and basically making a real hash of things (won't use a stronger word!). I have no doubt that had he not been employed GHA in some guise might still be trading.

Sadly to a point the management of Avon have to take the blame also. I'm not suggesting Merseytravel discounted tickets haven't caused some issue but they foolishly registered commercial work and took on contracts without the resources in place to fulfil them and this will have hit them hard and I don't think they ever fully recovered. There was a level of retrenchment afterwards to try and recoup but it was sadly too little too late.

The only minor plus is that there is a major PSV driver shortage nationwide so there's no reason why all the drivers shouldn't walk straight into other jobs.