r/Glasgow Tools

Their statement doesn’t say that. It says they are REGULARLY operating with low passenger numbers..

It doesn’t matter what way you spin it, the number of passengers using the services does not justify the costs to operate it.

We’ll use the N2 as an example. First run is 0100, and completed its last journey at 0355. Factor in running time to and from the depot we’ll call it 3.5 hours labour at £15 an hour. £52.50

Roughly 60 operating miles. We’ll be generous with 12mpg and call it about £32 in fuel.

Times it by the 11 services that operate

- £577.50 driver labour
- £352 fuel

The buses operate from 3 depots

That means you need 3 supervisors to manage and monitor the output and running of services. They need to be in before the buses go out and be there after they arrive. We’ll say their shift is 4 hours managing nightbuses.

(4*15)*3 = £180

You need spare drivers incase of absence

(4*15)*3 = £180

You need a mechanic incase any of your buses breakdown

4*15= £60

You need a staff bus driver at each depot for the drivers who don’t have cars

(4*15)*3 = £180 Plus fuel for the 3 staff buses lets say £60

You need a cleaner and someone to fuel the bus - £30*3

Maintenance/wear and tear lets again be generous and say 45p a mile - thats another £297 a night

Multiply those costs by 2 since they operate by 2 nights we’re looking at £3.8k over the weekends.

If we say each bus carries an average of 50 passengers per night (its actually much lower) thats £3.5k in revenue making loses of £300 a weekend. That is best case scenario with with inflated passenger numbers, suppressed labour costs, a bit of creative rounding to skew the figures in favour of public interest and it still doesn’t come out in profit.

The reality of it is revenue is not even close to the numbers above.