摘要: |
Like several other combined authorities, Tees Valley - which has assumed some transport powers from the local councils in Darlington, Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar & Cleveland and Stockton-on-Tees -has explored the option of franchising. It has rowed back from that for the time being. The Tees Valley Bus Implementation Plan, published in spring 2020, says 'a franchising scheme would be expensive to implement in comparison to a new partnership agreement', especially as 'the current system operates with a near-zero level of public subsidy'. Instead, it says: 'At this stage the combined authority is committed to exploring further a new partnership agreement with bus operators, while continuing to monitor franchising developments across the country.' |