What with the RPA’s sudden drop in Metro cost estimates, I wonder how much longer Brennan’s defence of this plan can remain justified.
As expected, the bus routes would be bid out to private operators, and they would be the low-ball bid, as the article renders it, those operators “bidding for the least amount of state aid to operate routes.” Lovely…the bus riders in Dublin will be stuck with imported Atlanteans from the 70s, or possibly worse than that (no, don’t expect AEC Routemasters, since the way London Transport and their subsidiaries run them, they are now top-of-the-line and, besides, they require a conductor).
Mr. Brennan also points out to OnBusiness the existence of a bus operator serving Dublin Airport who runs “without any assistance from the taxpayer”. Lovely; whomever it is is most likely the exception. Since the company is not named, there is no way to tell if it is a premium coach operator (numerous ones of those) or if it is AerDart, who do not discuss their revenue streams on their web site.
CIE have an alleged deficit of over €230 million, of which Mr. Brennan says he has “no intention of wiping out”. Mr. Brennan also warned the CIE unions that participating in this “no-fare day” would put CIE in the hole for another €1 million.
Any comments…?
BUSRAGE Discussions » Deregulation
Brennan defending CIE split (from OnBusiness.ie)
(2 posts)-
http://www.onbusiness.ie/2003/0625/cie01.html Posted 7 years ago # -
"Golden Gate" Brennan pointing out the profitability of the airport route as an example of a typical profitable private operator beggars belief!
Of course that route doesn't need taxpayers assistance, it's the airport!! You may as well get a private company to run the 46a and then use it as proof that private bus companies work....
[Armitage slaps forehead]
...which is exactly what Brennan is going to do, hand over the best routes to private companies, point out what a success it is, the papers/tv/radio will all agree, as they will be handed press packs with nice colourful graphs with lines climbing skyward, privatisation will be hailed as a great idea, and 20 years down the line we will have a bus system in Dublin a shadow of it's former self.
I am really worried about what they are going to do to this town. The economy is bad enough, but if people can't even get to work the situation will not improve.
As far as the CIE debt goes, check out the CIE Group site, they are already selling off lots of land, probably trying to offload it before the private sector get their hands on it. I wonder how much of the 'land' is actually former rail bed?Posted 7 years ago #
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