Threat of 'Nationalisation'.

[G-CPTN]

BUS company bosses have warned they will make their drivers redundant and take North East councils to the courts if they try to take over their routes.
The threats from local managers of transport firm Stagecoach came as talks over the “re-nationalisation” of buses on Tyne and Wear descended into open warfare.
The talks saw bus operators launch a blistering attack on Tyneside transport chiefs, accusing them of “blackmailing” firms into handing over bus routes.
Council transport chiefs were told their plans to seize control of bus routes across the region amounted to “theft” and that Metro bosses at Nexus were “operating in the same camp as Marx, Lenin and Trotsky”.
The claims were among many made when Stagecoach, Go North East and Arriva held talks with members of Nexus and councillors on the Tyne and Wear Integrated Transport Authority to discuss a controversial Quality Contracts Scheme.
Nexus has proposed bringing in these powerful contracts which see councils set bus routes, times and prices. They were suggested after officers grew fed up with bus operators “carving up” the region with only limited competition.

From (and more at):- http://www.journallive.co.uk/north-e...1634-30688136/