Rossobus

[gnolife]

Transdev seem to own more than twice that percentage.

https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/document-api-images-prod/docs/42oKcKb5iPFYdHSkGafJJ9TVcg5Rd5a0CFO8FqDdql4/application-pdf?AWSAccessKeyId=ASIAI36HRTKTLF7OPRTA&Expires=1513547221&Signature=M1PWg9YfH0icevKa9NR2htDC4Sw=&x-amz-security-token=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

Quite odd to see Alex Hornby is on the board too.

That link is just throwing out an error message for me.

 

[Lynford1976]

Which of the municipals still have an exact fare policy/use fareboxes? I know Nottingham and Reading still do.

 

[overthewater]

Lothian also has exact fare

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Which of the municipals still have an exact fare policy/use fareboxes? I know Nottingham and Reading still do.

Newport Bus still do - caught me out

 

[Deerfold]

That link is just throwing out an error message for me.

I've edited it - hopefully it'll work now.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I remember the article in Buses magazine about Rosso. It gave the impression of a somewhat lacklustre operation in poor operating territory with indifferent loadings, and served as a salutary reminder that not all our remaining municipals are star flyers like Lothian, Nottingham or Reading.

I am sorry to say that its sale now has not come as a surprise to me, and I hope Transdev/Blazefield can secure the future of decent bus services in the area.

Indeed, and my experience of Rosso/Rossendale of a very middle aged fleet, and a route network dominated by the 464 trunk route that was underpinning a lot of marginal stuff.

The industry is facing some fundamental challenges (not ones that can be surmounted by some sort of idealised renationalisation) and Rosso will have been experiencing those as well as the inability to adequately reinvest in the fleet.

 

[SCH117X]

Surly there is a clause given Transdev first refusal on the 82%?

Could well be but as the Council own the rest and have to get the best value for the public purse if someone offered far more than Transdev did...

Transdev seem to own more than twice that percentage.

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/...MyMGFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0

Quite odd to see Alex Hornby is on the board too.

NCT need to update their web site then as that quotes 18% https://www.nctx.co.uk/about-us/

 

[padbus]

Which of the municipals still have an exact fare policy/use fareboxes? I know Nottingham and Reading still do.

Cardiff Bus has exact fare and fare boxes. It deters me from using the bus there. I look forward to the day when the slow roll out of contactless debit cards is complete.

 

[Stan Drews]

Transdev seem to own more than twice that percentage.

https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/...MyMGFkaXF6a2N4/document?format=pdf&download=0

Quite odd to see Alex Hornby is on the board too.

I seem to be missing it, so can you advise where it says Transdev have more than an 18% stake?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Cardiff Bus has exact fare and fare boxes. It deters me from using the bus there. I look forward to the day when the slow roll out of contactless debit cards is complete.

I agree. Get the cash off the bus. Safer for the driver, quicker for the passengers.

 

[radamfi]

not ones that can be surmounted by some sort of idealised renationalisation

Actually, a lot of us want the opposite, as many people are looking forward to Rossendale's commercial routes being replaced by private companies running under a franchise system. Although it looks like Rossendale will be privatised before that happens. Last time I looked, franchising is a right-wing, Thatcherite philosophy. Actually, franchising was too extreme even for Maggie and we had to wait for Major to push ahead with rail franchising.

 

[Stan Drews]

Actually, a lot of us want the opposite, as many people are looking forward to Rossendale's commercial routes being replaced by private companies running under a franchise system. Although it looks like Rossendale will be privatised before that happens. Last time I looked, franchising is a right-wing, Thatcherite philosophy. Actually, franchising was too extreme even for Maggie and we had to wait for Major to push ahead with rail franchising.

Does anyone know which services Rosso operate entirely within Greater Manchester on a commercial basis?

 

[overthewater]

Actually, a lot of us want the opposite, as many people are looking forward to Rossendale's commercial routes being replaced by private companies running under a franchise system. Although it looks like Rossendale will be privatised before that happens. Last time I looked, franchising is a right-wing, Thatcherite philosophy. Actually, franchising was too extreme even for Maggie and we had to wait for Major to push ahead with rail franchising.

Yet Labour Mayor which is after this, And Tyne and wear is also labour run But is part of the reason Rossendale has been bough is to allow Trasnsdev a foothold for any franchise, along side First and Rotla?

 

[radamfi]

Does anyone know which services Rosso operate entirely within Greater Manchester on a commercial basis?

Presumably 467/468 at least.

 

[Deerfold]

I seem to be missing it, so can you advise where it says Transdev have more than an 18% stake?

Transdev own 3121276 of the total 7653276 issued shares.

 

[Deerfold]

Yet Labour Mayor which is after this, And Tyne and wear is also labour run But is part of the reason Rossendale has been bough is to allow Trasnsdev a foothold for any franchise, along side First and Rotla?

I've no idea what this is supposed to mean.

 

[overthewater]

I've no idea what this is supposed to mean.

Let add missing word. Even after I reread what I wrote first time around still mist it out.

Yet ITS A Labour Mayor which is after this, And Tyne and wear is also labour run

* Radamfi said "franchising is a right-wing, Thatcherite philosophy" which is contradictory to the political party which is pushing the idea at the moment

Second part is did Transdev buy Rossendale to get a foothold in the Manchester market?

 

[Dentonian]

Actually, a lot of us want the opposite, as many people are looking forward to Rossendale's commercial routes being replaced by private companies running under a franchise system. Although it looks like Rossendale will be privatised before that happens. Last time I looked, franchising is a right-wing, Thatcherite philosophy. Actually, franchising was too extreme even for Maggie and we had to wait for Major to push ahead with rail franchising.

I don't see how franchising is "right wing", it is not as divisive as Deregulation; "Cross-subsidy is Evil"....but if you steal profits from the car-less to subsidise bus wars elsewhere that's OK. And its Thatcher that modified the (one time) Duchess of Westminster's quote that "Any man over 26 (originally 30) who travels by bus is a loser". In other words, Thatcher wanted to destroy the bus industry (outside London), pure and simple. How typical that even her quote showed exactly the same imagination as the post 1986 bus industry (ie, NONE) and that the "Twitface" generation of bus companies are also cajoling over 26s off buses with their m-tickets and replacing Supervisors with Twitter as the only form of communication.

 

[radamfi]

I don't see how franchising is "right wing", it is not as divisive as Deregulation

Of course, deregulation is off the scale right-wing. But it is true to say that a lot of people were very angry at the franchising and privatisation of London buses and I still occasionally see remarks from people wanting London buses brought back into public ownership.

It is of course bizarre to claim that franchising = nationalisation. There's no way that people would say that if bus deregulation hadn't happened.

In the case of rail franchising, at least one major political party is advocating nationalisation.

 

[Stan Drews]

Transdev own 3121276 of the total 7653276 issued shares.

Ah right, you've assumed the different shares each have the same value to calculate your percentage.
I suspect it's more likely that they don't, and the 18% stake is entirely accurate.

 

[Volvodart]

There are different classes of shares, not all will have full ownership rights.

 

[KendalKing]

Presumably 467/468 at least.

Also the 461 Bury - Heywood - Norden

 

[radamfi]

Also the 461 Bury - Heywood - Norden

https://assets.contentful.com/nv7y9...a0ba67100d46a316a45ff465c69a2/461_15-1865.pdf

says "Bus 461 is provided with the financial support of Transport for Greater Manchester"

 

[NorthernSpirit]

Although it looks like Rossendale will be privatised before that happens. Last time I looked, franchising is a right-wing, Thatcherite philosophy. Actually, franchising was too extreme even for Maggie and we had to wait for Major to push ahead with rail franchising.

If a County Council or even a Borough Council wanted to save cash, then franchising their bus operations out is a big win win. Council retains overall control, private bus company simply runs the buses.

 

[Deerfold]

If a County Council or even a Borough Council wanted to save cash, then franchising their bus operations out is a big win win. Council retains overall control, private bus company simply runs the buses.

Perhaps. It depends how it's done, who carries how much risk. Presumably the franchisees are looking to extract some profit.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

If a County Council or even a Borough Council wanted to save cash, then franchising their bus operations out is a big win win. Council retains overall control, private bus company simply runs the buses.

I'm not certain it actually is. The picture in London, whilst changing, still sees operators making about 7 to 8% (and that is typically what they make on the continent IIRC). Rossendale was actually making less than that and Halton makes even less! Also, you'd have the management of the framework etc - these are all the actual realities of day that Nexus failed to grasp when they tried their QCS!

 

[Dentonian]

Also the 461 Bury - Heywood - Norden

461 is tendered. The only other commercial service wholly within GM is the 469, although odd journeys (linking trips, I presume) on other routes are commercial.

 

[AnonymousUser1]

Ah right, you've assumed the different shares each have the same value to calculate your percentage.
I suspect it's more likely that they don't, and the 18% stake is entirely accurate.

indeed i suspect the preference shares having no stated value don;t count ...

 

[Volvodart]

The Council approved the sale of Rossobus to Transdev Blazefield yesterday.

http://www.rossobus.co.uk/feature-article.shtml?articleid=7925

£3 Million investment promised in Rossendale for bus users as Rossendale Borough Council approves the sale of Rosso to Transdev
published: Thursday, December 21 2017
At last night's meeting (20 December 2017) Rossendale Borough Council approved the sale of Rossendale Transport Limited (trading as Rosso) to Transdev Blazefield. The formal transfer will be completed in the next few weeks.

As part of the agreement, Transdev is planning to invest significantly in Rosso including spending in the region of £3 million on state-of-the-art new buses to be placed on the busiest routes to benefit the most people and the most communities.

Rosso currently runs a network of bus routes around Rossendale and beyond to Ramsbottom, Bury and Rochdale. Its services connect to other local towns including Blackburn, Burnley and Bolton.

Following completion of the deal, Transdev plans to keep the local Rosso brand alongside more new local identities, and intends to make effective use of the new bus station currently being built in Rawtenstall.

Transdev also plans to introduce integrated ticketing across both networks and improve information to customers in a bid to get more people on board the bus.

As part of the proposed deal, the Council will retain the Haslingden depot in support of its commercial investment strategy.

Councillor Alyson Barnes, Leader of Rossendale Council, said: “The proposed sale is a great deal for the Council and for the borough that will see significant investment into the Rosso company to make sure we continue to get a great bus service locally. It's not about resolving the Council's financial challenges, we are looking at other ways of closing our budget gap and ensuring continuous improvement in public services.

“Transdev is an award-winning company with a strong reputation for quality services and investment that gets more people on board buses. Residents will benefit from that the fact that the new service will be able to join up routes right across the local sub-region. We would not be selling our shares if we didn't think they could deliver an even better service than we have now.”

Alex Hornby, Chief Executive, Transdev said: “Following approval and finalisation of the deal, we are looking forward to welcoming our new colleagues at Rosso into the Transdev Blazefield family. Our track record in Lancashire and across the north is one of growth, innovation and creating buses that people want to be seen on, and we have exciting plans including investment in new, hi-spec buses to benefit the people of Rossendale and Greater Manchester.

“From day one, we will be talking and listening to staff, customers and stakeholders about our strategy to ensure we deliver attractive bus services that reflect the needs of local communities and strengthen local economies.”

 

[Volvodart]

Alex Hornby has just tweeted that the sale to Transdev has now been completed.