Impera Bus & Coach

[First Class]

RE: Impera Bus & Coach - FLEET NEWS ONLY

(26/11/2012 00:35)3111 Wrote:  

(25/11/2012 22:48)First Class Wrote:  Keep an eye out

http://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/13...tender/new

I think that this was completely unneeded and unnecessary. Reasons have been stated and plenty of time has been left for another company to take-over the contract. As passengers, all we should be concerned about is having a fully-functioning service. If that's what we have, then what's your problem? And you've brought-up the 30 - again, unneeded and unnecessary in this situation.

I have the right to find out whether Impera (or any other company) is pulling a fast one with my council tax contributions.

You can't have companies bidding for routes on the cheap then dropping out before expiry because the route doesn't suit them for whatever reason, leading to more expense being incurred when a whole new tender process has to be re-ran at short notice!

Impera's reasons don't add up IMO. I am suspicious so I am investigating.

If Impera raised concerns about reliability, I am very sure Merseytravel would have investigated and, if required, amended the timetable to resolve this problem. This is a fairly easy fix. If Merseytravel investigated and found no problems, or refused to investigate, then that suggests something is up with the Impera version of events, or that Merseytravel does not care about timekeeping, and Merseytravel need a good kick up the backside. You, yourself, as a user and enthusiast, say that you have been happy with the performance of the 130 route, but Impera say there are serious timekeeping problems.

That leaves the only other reason given as Vandalism. If Merseyside police are aware of 34 incidents involving Impera services in Liverpool, they would be very willing to target that problem. Even with the vandalism, this route SHOULD be profitable, (unless Impera deliberately under-priced to win the contracts). Other operators did not have this problem on the routes, which again, makes me question the accuracy of this. Would a company really give up a lucrative series of contracts just because of vandalism?

The reason I mentioned the 30 in the FOI request is because Impera appears to be getting a taste for starting routes and subsequently changing their minds...

We don't have this fully functioning service you think we have!!

Arriva/Stagecoach>Supertravel>Cumfybus Emergency>Impera>ACE Emergency>Then whoever wins the full contract

It is unusual for a tendered route to see so many changes of operator in a fairly short space of time. This has only happened since the Independents took over the routes. The performance of this route really is dependent on which operator decides to bid!