Merseyside Night Buses

[Barney]

RE: Merseyside Night Buses

(24/08/2016 20:47)mr t Wrote:  But the sad thing is if everyone with passes use them they will not make any money, and thus still get withdrawn being deemed unprofitable, the drivers wages still need paying out of any takings, £20 an hour for Stagecoach I believe and well over £30 for Arriva

Over a thousand night buses operate in London on a typical weekend and not a penny is paid in cash fares. When the various private operators - including Arriva and Stagecoach - bid for the routes in London they do it with the knowledge that they will have to run 24/7 and that payment will be made through an Oyster card. Arriva and Stagecoach have their own smart card payment systems and are happy to take customers' money - and make a profit - but not provide a service for six hours of any given day.

If I was to take your argument to its logical conclusion we should return to a situation that existed decades ago whereby every single journey would be a cash fare. Now that really would be a surefire way to lose business.