Seems you're quite keen to dole out the criticism but less so to receive it. I'll leave others to decide whether it was a cheap jibe or a robust response to your criticism of First Group.
I'm quite happy to see my point of view countered. Less enamoured to see it done with personal attacks accusing me of pedantry and of making cheap jibes.
A perfect counter point was made by Rhygalad. Free of any personal dig.
The money trail is Byzantine. And it could be said that ultimately First Group/
TPE▸ are paying for the new rolling stock through the lease payments. But they are only doing so for 7 years which is in no way an investment. Lease fees are a cost to the business. Those 7 years of lease fees won't come close to covering the purchase price of the stock. Stock that will have a 'life' of over 30 years.
Further news outlets today continue to trot out that TPE have spent ^230 million. Yes, the media can be lazy, but they are not helped by being fed misleading press releases.