First Group: General Discussion

[TheGrandWazoo]

I thought they said it all in the 2017 Annual Report business review for First Bus: Bus services will continue to play a critical role in any local transport strategy that recognises the problems of congestion, air quality, parking and issues of social exclusion. Our objective is to continue to focus our investment and energy on local markets where these imperatives are recognised and our customers and the communities we serve have the most to gain from our services.

No biggins turn investment then. Invest when they have to, because the LAs demand it (and pull their weight!) Hence, Bristol and York. Not . . . well I leave that to everyone else . . .

To be honest, I'm not seeing many other businesses also forking out unilaterally either. Just do the maths - if it's £4.8m for 110 vehicles then it is on average an extra £40k per vehicle against the cost of a standard vehicle.

For electric or hybrid vehicles, that cost is even greater when you factor in the cost of replacement batteries; so much so that the great capitalist Satan that is EYMS has converted most of its hybrid e400 fleet back to standard diesel!:roll:

 

[GaryMcEwan]

To be honest, I'm not seeing many other businesses also forking out unilaterally either. Just do the maths - if it's £4.8m for 110 vehicles then it is on average an extra £40k per vehicle against the cost of a standard vehicle.

For electric or hybrid vehicles, that cost is even greater when you factor in the cost of replacement batteries; so much so that the great capitalist Satan that is EYMS has converted most of its hybrid e400 fleet back to standard diesel!:roll:

I'm pretty sure Lothian were converting their E400H's back to standard diesel as well...

 

[swifty]

I'm pretty sure Lothian were converting their E400H's back to standard diesel as well...

As I believe are Reading Buses....

 

[Bungle965]

I'm pretty sure Lothian were converting their E400H's back to standard diesel as well...

I seems they also have a habit of catching fire.
Sam

 

[overthewater]

Can anyone say whats going on with the Bolton Depot?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Can anyone say whats going on with the Bolton Depot?

Depends what you mean? What are you referring to?

 

[overthewater]

It seems the depot is short, Im not sure of what its short of buses? Drivers? etc? There having to pull journeys off routes

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It seems the depot is short, Im not sure of what its short of buses? Drivers? etc? There having to pull journeys off routes

What today? Bolton Half Marathon??

 

[overthewater]

What today? Bolton Half Marathon??

Not today, Over the past couple of days, it seems GMPTE have been putting up posters saying XXX jounreys will not run etc.

 

[Bungle965]

Not today, Over the past couple of days, it seems GMPTE have been putting up posters saying XXX jounreys will not run etc.

It's hasn't just been for a couple of days....
First have been struggling to operate a full service for a while.
Sam

 

[Goldfish62]

Not today, Over the past couple of days, it seems GMPTE have been putting up posters saying XXX jounreys will not run etc.

Haven't heard it (TfGM) called that for a while!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It's hasn't just been for a couple of days....
First have been struggling to operate a full service for a while.
Sam

Ok but to help the OP..... why?

 

[Bungle965]

Ok but to help the OP..... why?

I'm not entirely sure, but staff shortage is ringing a bell.
Sam

 

[THarris123]

Isn't Bolton home of the Bendies? Maybe that's something to do with it? The Bendies are supposedly going to be withdrawn and replaced with I don't know what.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Isn't Bolton home of the Bendies? Maybe that's something to do with it? The Bendies are supposedly going to be withdrawn and replaced with I don't know what.

Various vehicles have been sent from across the group to cover the missing bendies (such as 37351 from Bristol and 69230 from Somerset), some permanent, some on loan. DartSLF refers - there is some mention of staffing shortages on there from a month ago so that may be a clue?

 

[Strathclyder]

Various vehicles have been sent from across the group to cover the missing bendies (such as 37351 from Bristol and 69230 from Somerset), some permanent, some on loan.

In the same vein, Glasgow has loaned two B9TLs (37743 from Caledonia & 37278 from Blantyre) to Bolton as cover for the bendies. They are due to return to FiG next March, apparently.

 

[Strathclyder]

Duplicate post - please disregard.

 

[GaryMcEwan]

So far it appears that Caledonia and Blantyre have now adopted Ticketer machines.

I notice the the 500 Airport Express is now offering contactless via the ticket machine rather than the chip and machines they used to have.

I'm assuming in the near future this will be getting rolled out Glasgow wife?

 

[DD12]

I'm assuming in the near future this will be getting rolled out Glasgow wife?

Is a "rolled-out Glasgow wife" barrel shaped ??

 

[GaryMcEwan]

Is a "rolled-out Glasgow wife" barrel shaped ??

Ahhh...The cursed auto correct. Was using my phone when I posted that!

 

[Robertj21a]

Ahhh...The cursed auto correct. Was using my phone when I posted that!

Hope it's nothing like a Glasgow kiss.

 

[route101]

So far it appears that Caledonia and Blantyre have now adopted Ticketer machines.

I notice the the 500 Airport Express is now offering contactless via the ticket machine rather than the chip and machines they used to have.

I'm assuming in the near future this will be getting rolled out Glasgow wife?

Noticed new ticket machine on a 240 earlier , hopefully get contactless , would be far better than the app

 

[overthewater]

Glasgow:
X11 has been given the same branding as the X85/X87, hopeful the X1 will follow suit, the real test will be X3.

Bolton
Its short of buses and driver, Why has the bendies gone walkies? Aberdeen has no trouble with theres.

 

[mic]

In the same vein, Glasgow has loaned two B9TLs (37743 from Caledonia & 37278 from Blantyre) to Bolton as cover for the bendies. They are due to return to FiG next March, apparently.

32671 SN 55 HEU is said to be at Bolton aswell

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Glasgow:
X11 has been given the same branding as the X85/X87, hopeful the X1 will follow suit, the real test will be X3.

Bolton
Its short of buses and driver, Why has the bendies gone walkies? Aberdeen has no trouble with theres.

It is reported that the bendies have been removed because of the cost of running them. They have been parked up in Oldham depot, doubtless to run down the outstanding book value on them.

 

[overthewater]

It is reported that the bendies have been removed because of the cost of running them. They have been parked up in Oldham depot, doubtless to run down the outstanding book value on them.

What regs are these bendies?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

What regs are these bendies?

They are 05 plates

 

[overthewater]

They are 05 plates

That means even less since, Aberdeen has 05 plates and you dont see them being thrown away?

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

That means even less since, Aberdeen has 05 plates and you dont see them being thrown away?

It's hard to say without knowing what the individual circumstances are. Perhaps they've done the sums in Manchester and believe that the cost of bendis doesn't stack up but they do in Aberdeen.

 

[robertclark125]

Also could depend upon just how hard they've been worked in both places, meaning, how much more tired are the Bolton ones compared to Aberdeen.