First Group: General Discussion

[MCW]

im starting to wonder if anything will happen....

 

[markie73]

im starting to wonder if anything will happen....

I have had a e-mail response from First regarding Northampton:

'Thank you for contacting First and I apologise for the delay in getting back to you

We have not had any confirmation regarding Northampton. As far as we are aware, service will continue as usual. If anything should change, this will be advertised as much as possible.'

I just don't know what to make of their response......

 

[MK Tom]

I have had a e-mail response from First regarding Northampton:

'Thank you for contacting First and I apologise for the delay in getting back to you

We have not had any confirmation regarding Northampton. As far as we are aware, service will continue as usual. If anything should change, this will be advertised as much as possible.'

I just don't know what to make of their response......

Pretty standard for them really. They can't say anything until an official announcement is made so they're just giving an 'everything is normal' default reply.

 

[markie73]

Well still no official announcement on Northampton's future, but it's my guess that its increasingly likely that First will say goodbye to Northampton - I would have thought that if a buyer had been found then we would have heard something well before now.

 

[overthewater]

South Wales has been give the new livery and fleet name, I had my doubt this place was ever going to be sold in the first place but it look at last is deffo safe for now.

 

[MK Tom]

Well still no official announcement on Northampton's future, but it's my guess that its increasingly likely that First will say goodbye to Northampton - I would have thought that if a buyer had been found then we would have heard something well before now.

It's pretty much 100% that First are leaving and that's been true for half the year now really. There's just been a protracted saga of failed sale and First not wanting to announce stuff at the wrong time financially. We will see something before or soon after the new year I believe.

 

[markie73]

It's pretty much 100% that First are leaving and that's been true for half the year now really. There's just been a protracted saga of failed sale and First not wanting to announce stuff at the wrong time financially. We will see something before or soon after the new year I believe.

What Saga of failed sale is this then??

 

[radamfi]

Which places have yet to receive the new nationwide standard ticket machines?

 

[MK Tom]

What Saga of failed sale is this then??

Well from what I've been told they set the price too high and nobody wanted to pay it! Centrebus and Uno both expressed interest.

 

[winston270twm]

Which places have yet to receive the new nationwide standard ticket machines?

Kidderminster & Redditch, Worcester & Hereford depots of Wyvern have had them installed

 

[overthewater]

Kidderminster & Redditch, Worcester & Hereford depots of Wyvern have had them installed

With that information I want to SLASH the odd for those depots!

 

[Jeni]

Kidderminster & Redditch, Worcester & Hereford depots of Wyvern have had them installed

From what I gather, it's only Worcester & Hereford that have them.

 

[winston270twm]

From what I gather, it's only Worcester & Hereford that have them.

That's what I've said

 

[markie73]

Well from what I've been told they set the price too high and nobody wanted to pay it! Centrebus and Uno both expressed interest.

Well the Northampton operation can't be worth much given the state of it though?, looks like another balls up by them and a missed opportunity to sell instead of possibly walking away.

 

[tbtc]

Well the Northampton operation can't be worth much given the state of it though?, looks like another balls up by them and a missed opportunity to sell instead of possibly walking away.

Sell to who though?

Given the competition concerns, why would another big company want to pay big money for the Northampton operation when there's a good chance First would have to meekly give up anyway?

 

[Ivo]

Do you think First would accept the princely sum of £1 for Northampton?

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Do you think First would accept the princely sum of £1 for Northampton?

Mind if I give you half towards it?

 

[Phil6219]

On the Wigan front I have heard from a debatable source (sometimes is excellent, other times talks out of the wazoo) that some "new" vehicles went down to Wigan from Scotland last week and when seen earlier have "Stagecoach - In Wigan" branding.

I can't see any photo's online, then again I wouldn't know where to look* :/

*Google isn't helping for once

Phil

 

[overthewater]

On the Wigan front I have heard from a debatable source (sometimes is excellent, other times talks out of the wazoo) that some "new" vehicles went down to Wigan from Scotland last week and when seen earlier have "Stagecoach - In Wigan" branding.

I can't see any photo's online, then again I wouldn't know where to look* :/

*Google isn't helping for once

Phil

Wigan got a good number of "56" reg E300 and 04 darts from Scotland, Im also believe some of the ex Aberdeen stock E300 were also sent
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Do you think First would accept the princely sum of £1 for Northampton?

Plus Debt? since the company is in the Red

 

[robertclark125]

All I know with regards to the ex east scotland MAN 18.220s with 06 plates that went down, so far four have gone down, and are currently at Hyde Road. I am not aware of any of them gaining Stagecoach in Wigan branding, and indeed I'm not sure their Stagecoach in Fife or Stagecoach in Perth branding has been removed yet.

 

[Volvodart]

Wigan got a good number of "56" reg E300 and 04 darts from Scotland, Im also believe some of the ex Aberdeen stock E300 were also sent
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It was 55 reg ALX300 MANs that went from Aberdeen. There are about 6 more of them being replaced by Enviro300s this week. It will be interesting to see where they end up.

 

[radamfi]

The takeover of the Wigan operation will complete 0500 on Sunday

http://www.stagecoachbus.com/Wigan.aspx

has details of ticketing from that date.

First tickets (except monthly tickets) will continue to be sold for the time being. First tickets with monthly or longer validity will cease to be valid from 6 January.

The X34 will be a joint First/Stagecoach service with mutual ticket acceptance.

 

[overthewater]

Can ANYONE tell me which route has gone to First and which routes are the busiest?

Stagecoach will be operating the following services in Wigan, Leigh and surrounding areas from 0500 on 2nd December 2012.

32 Wigan–Hindley- Atherton- Tyldesley- Manchester

33 Wigan– Hindley -Atherton- Astley-Worsley-Eccles-Manchester (Evening Only Services)

113 Wigan –Standish- Wrightington Hospital (Sunday only)

540 Wigan - Hindley - Daisy Hill - Westhoughton - Bolton

593 Wigan - Hindley – Castle Hill – Tamar - Leigh (Evening Only Services)

598 Wigan - Hindley - Tamar - Leigh

600/601 Wigan - Ashton - Golborne - Leigh

610 Wigan - Ashton - Golborne - Leigh

621 Wigan – Pemberton – Norley Hall – Kitt Green- Marsh Green Circular

625 Wigan – Beech Hill Circular

628 Wigan – Kitt Green

629 Wigan - Hindley - Castle Hill (Fri/ Sat night/ Sat/Sun morning)

631/632 Wigan - Marus Bridge – Highfield Grange Circular

635 Wigan - Shevington - Standish - Wigan (Fri/ Sat night/ Sat/Sun morning)

658 Wigan- Platt Bridge - Leigh - Higher Folds

695 Wigan - Abbey Lakes - Upholland (Fri/ Sat night/ Sat/Sun morning)

X34 Lowton – Leigh- Astley- Pendleton - Manchester (also operated by First Manchester )

 

[radamfi]

I think it is interesting that the X34 will be joint as I would have thought that route would be wanted by both operators as it will benefit soon from the busway.

 

[Jeni]

I think it is interesting that the X34 will be joint as I would have thought that route would be wanted by both operators as it will benefit soon from the busway.

I'd imagine Stagecoach want to keep First fairly sweet if they have their eyes on other operations too. Wouldn't surprise me if a few months down the line, they step up the competition on that route!

 

[overthewater]

What busway is this? Also Maybe Its keep the CC/OFT happy look at Cambridge busway stagecoach does not have fully control over that neither.

 

[cainebj]

What busway is this? Also Maybe Its keep the CC/OFT happy look at Cambridge busway stagecoach does not have fully control over that neither.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereve...51_plans-revealed-for-76m-leigh-guided-busway

 

[radamfi]

Note the 32 (Wigan - Manchester express), one of the routes that Stagecoach are taking over, will also use part of the busway for a large part of the route.

 

[tamesidedepot]

its not the first joint operation for Stagecoach and First in Greater Manchester, they have jointly operated the 22 from Stockport to Bolton since GMBuses was split. Tickets had in the past been interavailable, although I'm not sure if this is still the case.

 

[KendalKing]

All I know with regards to the ex east scotland MAN 18.220s with 06 plates that went down, so far four have gone down, and are currently at Hyde Road. I am not aware of any of them gaining Stagecoach in Wigan branding, and indeed I'm not sure their Stagecoach in Fife or Stagecoach in Perth branding has been removed yet.

There are also a number of buses in storage at the storage depot in Charles Street, Stockport.