But aren't these RE routes, not EI ones? So if EI pulled the plug on the franchise, the routes would fly on in Stobart's name. So is it not Stobart who have the greater power, as they can choose to go with whoever out of EI or BE offers the best terms or just go it alone? Though the waters are slightly muddied in that connections are still offered under BE branding (from SEN at least) but it is of course in EI's interest to maintain the flow to the TA services.
Where the SEN route does bring complication is that it is a mixture of BE and RE metal.