Post by boz on Apr 1, 2018 18:03:19 GMT
They are a huge operator which was previously perceived as invincible. OK they've had some tender turbulence but none of that was "fatal" to any garage. What I think we are seeing is the impact of enforced garage closures at relatively short notice which has forced a lot of work and cost in to trying to provide alternative operational sites. There is also the impact of TfL's non stop programme of cuts with drivers being made surplus from night work and having to be accommodated on day work plus other changes.
Whether we like it or not I think we're seeing a bit of "crisis" management with the wobbly vehicle allocations and now short notice staff moves. It may be far from the ideal but I never had any say where I was based at TfL - they could put you anywhere in Greater London. I once had less than 12 hours notice of a departmental move - it was a pain but you just have to cope. I worked in 8 different offices across Zone 1 and to travel to offices for meetings all over the place. Bus drivers must realise they are subject to garage moves as part of normal business although I can understand a degree of upset at short notice changes. Imagine how they're going to feel when the compulsory redundancies start ..... an inevitable consequence of TfL's cuts IMO.
As an aside, I was passing through Peckham on the train yesterday, and wondered: in the long term, might it have been better to retain the original PM? (Probably not as the costs associated would have impacted on the ability to retain routes, but I'd be interested in others' views).
Apparently there were concerns over the concrete roof in addition to high operating costs. This led to the decision to move to a low cost base.