Indeed, but it is why they run the service Arctic Troll pointed out.
As a user, they do seem to be a reasonable company; about 18 months ago they introduced 2 unsubsidised later services on the 25 past my house and seem to be sticking with them whilst usage slowly builds up. They doubled the daytime frequency of the 25, filling the paths formerly used by the NYCC-subsidised 78A between Airedale Hospital and Keighley.
When they won the contract to run between Skipton and Grassington on Sundays they took the initiative to run through services from Manchester.
They seem to have been criticised for extending their popular 28 and 29 services to Skipton but this is only one of several initiatives from the company.
But not reasonable enough to consider innovation?
Skipton to Burnley now has four buses per hour, all via Barnoldswick, some doubling back via Earby as well - the extra buses to Skipton simply being extensions of existing workings.
Why not be innovative and have a direct (and thus faster and more attractive) service? The existing route is tedious - I last did it on a Sunday when every route variant was served. I lost the will to live long before I arrived in Skipton! More recently I did Keighley to Burnley. So much running time the bus left Keighley a few minutes late, dawdled all the way and still had to wait for time en-route.
However, I can't see the current level of service lasting too long. Long enough for memories of the competition to fade then a gradual reduction back to 2 buses per hour. The historic frequency between Burnley and Skipton having been hourly on the Ribble service pre-deregulation.
I generally have high regard for Transdev services - quality vehicles well presented and excellent publicity, but I fear they are suffering from the 'crumbling edge of quality' as passneger volumes / ENCTS re-imbursement declines.
People have suggested Pennine ran old buses - my local First Group subsidiary (First Potteries) had the cheek a few weeks ago to launch (yet another) new livery - the best they could put on show was a tarted up 05 reg bus! Their newest buses locally are 06 reg deckers.
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I passed the Skipton depot today. Unlike Ingleton, Settle and Barnoldswick, this depot doesn't seem to be for sale at the moment. You have to wonder why such a small bus company needed to have four depots when the big firms have found it more economical to shut smaller out-stations and centralise everything. At Skipton they have installed security fencing but there was some activity going on. At least four Dennis Darts still present, one of which has been painted white, presumably for resale to another firm.
Settle and Ingleton are 'buildings to park buses in' rather than full depots and have been owned for many years, so I suppose there was no need to change things, especially with Ribble / Stagecoach paying rent on one of them.
Big companies close their small depots / out-stations, run the services from other depots for a while, then decide it is uneconomical to operate the route due to all the dead mileage involved. Grassington for example. Many National Bus Company subsidiaries had small depots / outstations because they worked (at that point in time when bus services were much busier) - buses ran full into town in the monring and back from town at night - no dead mileage. The accountants who now run the industry just don't understand such things. As mentioned up thread, Grassington was perhaps a little over the top, but a secure yard with a cabin does the job nicely.
