Arriva Strike

[iMarkeh]

RE: Arriva Strike

(14/11/2017 19:01)wirralbus Wrote:  You would put the 79C at the same depot as the standard 79 even if it means moving another route over to Green Lane from Speke.

I only said Green Lane due to Speke holding only double deckers and the 79 currently uses singles.

(14/11/2017 19:34)Lynx Wrote:  I find outright closure at Runcorn unlikely given the recent investment in gas buses and the fact that these can't be run from any other depot given that Speke and Green Lane don't have the CNG facility, that for the record wasn't cheap to install. If anything I think it's more likely that a buyer would be sought, could even be the ticket into Halton that Stagecoach have reportedly been after for some time.

Or they wanted to stick with what they had. 4 years ago the original gas buses were introduced so if they were to go ahead and purchase battery buses, that would be another cost and another bit of equipment. It is also cheaper for maintenance having less types of vehicle in a depot (spare parts and familiarisation). Of course this issue of strikes wasnt an issue 4 years ago. It would have been daft if Arriva had turned around and bought another different type of vehicle using another bit of equipment. Arriva would still move some ops into other depots to save hassle. For example the 79C, 82A, X1 as they are useless to Stagecoach in that they run right along and through Arriva areas. The busway circulars, X30 would probably be taken. 110 I think has a good chance as well. The 3a,b,c don't look like they make much money. X30 would still move to Chester depot and the 1,2,110 could be ran from Gillmoss (only 25 minutes drive). That still leaves Runcorn depot empty.

(14/11/2017 23:01)Bevan Price Wrote:  The example of the withdrawal of Arriva from seeking the next rail franchise for Wales shows that their German owners will not hesitate to dump any potentially non-profitable activities. I think the danger of prolonged strikes is that many marginally profitably route will become unprofitable, and will almost certainly be withdrawn by Arriva - the consequence being a lot of lost jobs.

Whilst I have some sympathy with the drivers' cause, my advice would be to take what you can while you can. Next year you might not have a job with Arriva, and consider - will you get better pay from a new operator (probably operating fewer / less frequent services ) ??

Principles are fine - but they don't pay the food & housing bills, etc.

I think quite a few routes may end up cut in the near future as a direct result of the strikes. I don't think there is much chance of them ending soon. Arriva are not daft, they know that if it keeps going, drivers will say, sod it as they can't afford to live on the £30 they get on strike days. Arriva are unlikely to budge I think. The more dates, the less the drivers earn and it will get to a point where they can't live on it. One day per week isn't much. Upto 3 & 4 days, that is a lot more they are losing. Especially Christmas week, they wont earn anything. A proved in St Helens on the last strike day, a driver tried to drive a bus and Arriva called the police to escort the driver out the depot but the employees all blocked the entrance and refused to let the bus out. Eventually routes will go elsewhere. The amount of contracts Arriva have from Merseytravel for schools and diversion money for plenty more services. It will all move to other services or new contracts will be sent out losing Arriva a lot more money again. It will be interesting to see how many services end up running next month. Winsford are almost on a full service as is Macclesfield. I don't think Bolton and Wythenshawe are far behind full service either leaving only Merseyside and Runcorn fighting. At least the depots where the routes are least viable, the service is still running keeping those areas running.