TheGrandWazoo
Veteran Member
Arriva outstation a number of vehicles (anyone know how many?) at Alpine Coaches depot in Llandudno, so no real need for an Arriva depot at Junction, especially as Arriva seem to be retrenching in north Wales.
No new vehicles, no new routes, no innovation, no marketing and frequencies even of trunk routes all over the place.
Perhaps Arriva are looking for a buyer like they have just secured in the Cannock area?
In Chester, they kept all the trunk routes on 1/2 frequency as well rather than running full timetables which were done elsewhere. The routes are now only just returning to decent timetables. They are 100% running down the area but in true NW&W fashion, they are doing it in such a way to kill off the demand on the local routes so no one else will try and run the buses and then with no competition, they can keep the trunk routes which make more money. It's as if they have a grudge against the area and as they can't make it work, they don't want anyone else to make it work.
I don't think it is. In most instances in life, cock-up rather than conspiracy is always most likely. TBH, Arriva have a higher cost base (and higher margin expectations) so that has an impact on their competitiveness for tenders and their general service provision.
The main problem for Arriva seems to stem from its parent, Deutsche Bahn. They started looking at a sale in 2016, then went back on that. However, DB have massive debt problems, compounded by the need to invest in new high speed trains in Germany. With a debt mountain of c.€25bn, they've looked at selling Arriva in 2019 and were in discussions before then pulling out and deciding to pursue an IPO before deciding to withdraw from that process. It's a business in a holding pattern but it's been like that for 3-4 years; lack of investment, and a focus on margins and not growth. It's First of 2010.
ps I wouldn't have retained LJ depot. It was knackered and the low height nature of the buildings was a right faff.