any Bus classifieds on the web?

[MCW]

Looking on behalf of someone setting up, since I have a lot of free time.

good friend of mine so I'm allowed to as well!

Anyone know any decent bus classifieds sites, i'm thinking of Auto Trader but for buses????

tried the usual, ensign, stafford, etc, just wondered if anyone knew any??

mostly looking for deckers and Metrobuses as well, although we are game for anything, providing its viable for the needs of the company.

cheers,

 

[bluenoxid]

Looking on behalf of someone setting up, since I have a lot of free time.

good friend of mine so I'm allowed to as well!

Anyone know any decent bus classifieds sites, i'm thinking of Auto Trader but for buses????

tried the usual, ensign, stafford, etc, just wondered if anyone knew any??

mostly looking for deckers and Metrobuses as well, although we are game for anything, providing its viable for the needs of the company.

cheers,

Bruce

What scale???

Get CBW and Buses and look into the back of them. They all have websites. You can also look at Buses Fleetlists which tells you where the buses have come from.

I know you are trying to be helpful and it is easy to think that it is a cowboy game but this is not a simple thing. Be VERY VERY careful.

You may think you know what you are doing because of your activities but a small slip up can end up costing thousands and thousands of pounds

 

[mbonwick]

www.route-one.net

With respect, Metrorusts are a long way away from the best vehicles to be starting up with in this day and age.

 

[trentside]

In many areas, MCW Metrobuses will no longer meet contract specifications from local authorities either due to restrictions on age or emissions. They are not the most robust vehicles either.

 

[MCW]

Bruce

What scale???

Get CBW and Buses and look into the back of them. They all have websites. You can also look at Buses Fleetlists which tells you where the buses have come from.

I know you are trying to be helpful and it is easy to think that it is a cowboy game but this is not a simple thing. Be VERY VERY careful.

You may think you know what you are doing because of your activities but a small slip up can end up costing thousands and thousands of pounds

Full size 1:1 and I will research former operators, I know some were worse than others!!!

www.route-one.net

With respect, Metrorusts are a long way away from the best vehicles to be starting up with in this day and age.

I suppose you are right, however, GH watts of Leicester have used them for years and they are probably ready for another 20 years service (then again they were re panelled)

In many areas, MCW Metrobuses will no longer meet contract specifications from local authorities either due to restrictions on age or emissions. They are not the most robust vehicles either.

I'm not fully up on the Leicester specs but judging by a lot of operators (independants) in the city have been using Olympians, Tigers, Metrobox's Detonators and other stuff I dont think our emissions regs are that tight.

I know that for schools here you need seatbelts fitted to vehicles and apart from that and a few minor things it seems alright here.


cheers all!

Will have a look around, had been playing with the thought of more recent volvo olympians or B10's

 

[34D]

I'm going to suggest that you and your friend would benefit from the advice of one of the experienced dealers. Suggesting mcw metrobuses suggests that you will have issues separating emotion/hobby from modern business realities.

I can supply low floor tridents (from around £10k in london condition with no test, to around double that (max) with proper single door conversion and part 1 and 2 accessibility certificate. Before expending much time on this, I would need to meet the person behind the proposed operation.

 

[bluenoxid]

Full size 1:1 and I will research former operators, I know some were worse than others!!!



I suppose you are right, however, GH watts of Leicester have used them for years and they are probably ready for another 20 years service (then again they were re panelled)



I'm not fully up on the Leicester specs but judging by a lot of operators (independants) in the city have been using Olympians, Tigers, Metrobox's Detonators and other stuff I dont think our emissions regs are that tight.

I know that for schools here you need seatbelts fitted to vehicles and apart from that and a few minor things it seems alright here.


cheers all!

Will have a look around, had been playing with the thought of more recent volvo olympians or B10's

Just because the incumbents get away with certain vehicles at the moment, does not mean you will when the next round of contracts are awarded.

Have you taken into account registration and the buildings you will require? You really need to sit down with someone who knows what they are doing and show them the cash that you are prepared to put into this because it is not a game. You will also need to sit down with the council peeps (your area and neighbouring (because those are going to be the next steps and councils copy each other)) to discuss what they are looking for in bids. It would be rather stupid for me to try and set up a 2 bus operation in Tyne and Wear at the moment. Do you know why and how many buses would I need to meet the minimum contract requirement (clue in the question for the first part. The second part is very nasty)?

It is not the bus manufacturer that matters. It is what is available at your budget for your operational requirements.

Have you done a gap analysis to find out what is available and what is coming up in terms of contracts?

If you look at Buses Fleetlists, they will tell you where some of the smaller operators in your area are sourcing buses.

34D - from scratch (no garage and no buses) and to cover first year costs, how much will Bruce need as a ball park figure. I am thinking at least £100K and that is if he hires the buses. Revenues will take a chunk out of that but drivers and back office costs will add to it.

 

[MCW]

its not my company I'm just volunteering some help as I know the bloke!

I hear you though.

Trying to see what we can get for the money from the 1990's early 00's

 

[34D]

34D - from scratch (no garage and no buses) and to cover first year costs, how much will Bruce need as a ball park figure. I am thinking at least £100K and that is if he hires the buses. Revenues will take a chunk out of that but drivers and back office costs will add to it.

Its simply impossible to answer. If we're bidding on tendered routes, where there will be a monthly/quarterly payment regardless of whether the service is empty, then that is a lot safer than trying to establish from scratch a 6 vehicle commercial route.

£100k sounds a sensible number. Let's assume completely from scratch: to apply for a 6 vehicle O-licence, bank statements showing a balance of £34k (maintained constantly for three months) need to be shown. Last time I checked, it was 8k for the first vehicle and 5k each for additionals. Note that strictly speaking this £34k needs to be maintained permanently.

Another important consideration is who will be your transport manager.

For most councils, you'll need to have the O-licence prior to being able to bid.

Assuming successful, then there are good deals on leasing/on finance for vehicles.

Around £10k to 15k will get you a decent early solo (as in R S T reg) and trident of similar vintage would be 15k to 20k (these prices are typical prices from reputable sources with MOTs). In my opinion, I wouldn't suggest any start-up operator go any older, or touch step-entry vehicles (maybe a late step decker for schools, but that's it).

Should I carry on? Remember we're nowhere near first day of service yet!

 

[bluenoxid]

I am enjoying the frank input to be honest.

Really appreciate the contributions.

 

[AndrewP]

Try

www.ensignbus.com

www.venturasales.co.uk/ventura-bus-coach-sales/buses

www.southdownpsv.co.uk/sales/used.php?page=intro

I have bought bus services but never buses but its useful to know what buses costs to compare various bids.

I would be very wary buying anything that was not accessible.

 

[34D]

I am enjoying the frank input to be honest.

Really appreciate the contributions.

Staff wise, the transport manager (who will now need to do a minimum number of hours in a week) will need paying from the start.

Also a mechanic (and/or outsourced provider) will need to be on stream in advance of the start up, then therell need to be the things that any business needs, ie solicitor/accountant/etc.

I've not mentioned drivers. Decent ones are hard to find. They'll need to be paid while route-learning.

I really feel for the guy contemplating starting from scratch.

 

[MCW]

this guy is one man, one bus, and a school route, some weddings and private hires, that's all for now. lol.

Might have found something to get him started with. We might be able to get hold of M176 GRY from Arriva North east, we have contacted them and we will chase them up if they don't get back in touch like they promised. It's a bit newer, spares are not too bad, mechanics are good, was looked after in Leicester and is pretty much all Original!!!

what do you think?

 

[mbonwick]

I think you should be aiming for nothing older that R reg.....anything older tends to have a one-way ticket to the scrapyard these days.

 

[AndrewP]

Let me know if you want any corporate image / livery work done (pro bono).

Always happy to help a new business.

 

[MCW]

Let me know if you want any corporate image / livery work done (pro bono).

Always happy to help a new business.

Awesome mate, will bear it in mind, we have the livery sorted, I don't know what he is doing logo wise.

 

[BestWestern]

this guy is one man, one bus, and a school route, some weddings and private hires, that's all for now. lol.

Might have found something to get him started with. We might be able to get hold of M176 GRY from Arriva North east, we have contacted them and we will chase them up if they don't get back in touch like they promised. It's a bit newer, spares are not too bad, mechanics are good, was looked after in Leicester and is pretty much all Original!!!

what do you think?

Have you looked at this:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Volvo-Oly...ches&hash=item460802e253&_uhb=1#ht_481wt_1417

6K for a Volvo Olly is a good price, and she's got a decent seating capacity and what sounds like a fresh MOT.

Or even, something like this!?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AMERICAN-...ches&hash=item3ccb1c091a&_uhb=1#ht_824wt_1397

In all seriousness, you may find a purpose-built vehicle carries a tad more sway, and you also might find more interest on the wedding front if you have an interesting vehicle which people might consider using as a feature of their big day rather than simply an average bus? Just a thought!