Warrington's Own Buses

[iMarkeh]

RE: Warrington's Own Buses

(27/04/2018 14:20)Barney Wrote:  Isn't Network Warrington an arms-length subsidiary of Warrington Council? If this is the case, why would the council promote a rival company? You never see Tesco's promoting Sainsbury's or any other supermarket chain. There is nothing corrupt about this practice; it's the way it used to be before deregulation.

Yes however as others have said, councils should be neutral. If Fairbrothers, Link or Arriva wanted to do this to bus stops, they would not allow it. Before deregulation, there was hardly that much competition if any. Councils ran their own buses so obviously promote it as there isn't an alternative. Nowadays, Halton, Arriva, Link, Fairbrothers, First and Howards have buses into Warrington (Though the majority aren't over 'Cat' routes, they still operate) so there is a lot more competition. If the council allowed other companies to do the same, it would be different but the fact they encourage Warrington to block stands, they allow all sort of practises other companies would be told off for. And now they knock another nail in the coffin. Halton Council own Halton Transport, I don't see any of this stand blocking, wasting taxpayers money on dupes, generally being a nuisance to all bus companies. Everyone gets along, no issues in Halton with regards to competition. It is all friendly. As KnutsfordTransport has said (quoted below) they have to state about other companies being available and give proper unbiased information. NW staff are saying other bus companies don't stop at places (for example Fairbrothers don't stop at the hospital) to stop people using other buses.

(27/04/2018 15:46)knutstransport Wrote:  A lot has changed since deregulation regarding what publicly owned companies, in general, can and can't do.

Try comparing a publicly funded local council with the publicly funded BBC instead of non-tax payer funded supermarkets who don't have any legal obligation to provide services to the general public. The BBC are allowed to advertise their own commercial products but have to include a disclaimer that alternatives are available e.g. when they used to own Radio Times there was always an advert on BBC channels every Tuesday that "The new Radio Times is out now...." followed by "Other TV listings magazines are available."