Are Arriva buses getting worce?
Like most huge transport companies the quality of the service and operational efficiency offered by Arriva varies a great deal in different parts of the country. On the positive side Arriva Trains Wales is one of the most punctual and efficient rail companies; Arriva Buses where I live in London are extrmely punctual and well operated too. However in Surrey around Guildford where Arriva run many rural services under contract to Surrey County Council, most of the buses are very old and prone to frequent breakdowns, which is not funny on routes timetabled to run only every 2 hours; The explanation lies in the system of U.K. transport organisation; all rail companies and bus companies winning contracts in London are subject to strict regulation and face fines or loss of contracts for poor standards of services. In rural areas county councils will generally award contracts to the lowest bidding operator and are not much concerned with service quality. Let at low cost, profit margins for th
