DAVID JENKINS looks over the history of Arriva, and assesses what has gone wrong at the company over the last decade
All companies have their ups and downs. For many years, First seemed to be at the bottom of the pile of enthusiast regard.A shrinking business, a boring livery, and general lack lustre performance all contributed to a poor reputation. One that was shared by others, including politicians and in the comments of many local newspapers.
But that's not the case anymore. In some places, it is almost harder to find a First bus in bog standard group livery, than one that is either wholly or partially branded. An effort to attract passengers is clear in many holiday areas, and investment is flowing, at least where the public authorities are prepared to offer something in return.
No, the new name at the bottom of the pile is Arriva. Its revamped website is still poor, though at least the random lists of times and places purporting to be timetables have finally been replaced by something that broadly are. It still won't tell intending customers about single or return fares, and it has achieved a new level of blandness with its light blue livery. Repeating a pattern once seen at First, it has …
