First Group: General Discussion

[Tomonthetrain]

This is from a manager at wyvern and another manager from another bus company so I can say its top notch however I can't say yet until its been announced publicly

 

[winston270twm]

Is this from the same source that said Uno had bought Northampton?

Its more likely to have come from a message posted on the West Midlands Buses in photographs forum

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Basically from the Redditch local newspaper first at possibly increase services in Redditch to compete against Rotala who are also looking at increasing services.

 

[overthewater]

Basically from the Redditch local newspaper first at possibly increase services in Redditch to compete against Rotala who are also looking at increasing services.

What local newspaper?

http://www.redditchstandard.co.uk/

http://www.redditchadvertiser.co.uk/


either way this sounds awfully alike Chester again....

 

[Tomonthetrain]

I believe it was the standard. But it has been confirmed by a few people at different companies that Rotala at least are surveying on the Red Diamond site about service provision.

 

[overthewater]

I believe it was the standard. But it has been confirmed by a few people at different companies that Rotala at least are surveying on the Red Diamond site about service provision.

Do you have links etc ?

 

[Tomonthetrain]

http://www.diamondbuses.com/red/Customer-Survey.aspx

Diamond survey about Redditch service provision

 

[Phil6219]

I'm not particularly in the mood to talk right now but needless to say First outdid themselves on the final 33 service ex Wigan tonight...

Phil

 

[MK Tom]

Found this gem from Wigan depot on Flickr courtesy of a user named 'The Real Mad Haggis' - copyright obviously to them. http://www.flickr.com/photos/63797212@N02/8235645434/

 

[F Great Eastern]

Ireland Aircoach financials (all correct)
In the financial year ended March 2011, Aircoach lost €622,273. Meanwhile profit was €210,899 to March 2010, €1.36m to March 2009, €2.04m to March 2008, To March 2007 it was €2.25m and €501,000 to March 2006

 

[ryson357]

I'm surprised Dorset wasn't sold? Do they make lots of profit?

 

[overthewater]

I'm surprised Dorset wasn't sold? Do they make lots of profit?

As I said its only the above six companies that causing the trouble. Dorset does make money, surprising

 

[Ivo]

I'm surprised Dorset wasn't sold? Do they make lots of profit?

Dorset have come a heck of a long way over the last year or two. Before this whole series was announced, it wouldn't have been a surprise to see Weymouth touted for sale - instead, it was quite possibly the first "smaller"/non-PTE operation to have the new livery. They have also been starting to make in-roads into the far more valuable market of Poole/Bournemouth.

Found this gem from Wigan depot on Flickr courtesy of a user named 'The Real Mad Haggis' - copyright obviously to them. http://www.flickr.com/photos/63797212@N02/8235645434/

That is a strange sight! Thank you for linking to this, and well done to the photographer if ever (s)he reads this.

 

[tamesidedepot]

been beaten to it, but never mind

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44330318@N02/8236963147/in/photostream

it did seem rather odd seeing the beach ball on a barbie bus. I did ponder going to Wigan, but its a bit cold for me today, so I satisifed myself with the first journey from Piccadilly instead

 

[robertclark125]

Does Barbie like playing with beachballs!

 

[markie73]

Is this from the same source that said Uno had bought Northampton?

I thought that this story/rumor had bitten the dust ages ago as nothing has been mentioned about this for a while now.

 

[F Great Eastern]

So it seems some quite young vehicles are going then, do we know what vehicles they are getting?

I was thinking that First were going to use the disposals to get rid of some of their older fleet to help them get to the deadline of accessible fleet quicker, as with other sell offs they seemed to be sending oldest vehicles to the operations.

But sending a 2007 Gemini out goes against that.

 

[overthewater]

So it seems some quite young vehicles are going then, do we know what vehicles they are getting?

I was thinking that First were going to use the disposals to get rid of some of their older fleet to help them get to the deadline of accessible fleet quicker, as with other sell offs they seemed to be sending oldest vehicles to the operations.

But sending a 2007 Gemini out goes against that.

First want money, and to get a good price there going to have to allow a good number of newer buses to be sold off.

Only way first is going to get everything low floor is by BUYING new buses its the only way forward. Stagecoach in the other hands have more than this option.

Saying that First could always buy more Ex London stock and do them up...

 

[34D]

been beaten to it, but never mind

http://www.flickr.com/photos/44330318@N02/8236963147/in/photostream

it did seem rather odd seeing the beach ball on a barbie bus. I did ponder going to Wigan, but its a bit cold for me today, so I satisifed myself with the first journey from Piccadilly instead

And another that I've been sent http://www.flickr.com/photos/psbusdriver/8237465369/

 

[Statto]

Apparently there is going to be something happening in midland red west as I've heard something interesting Will happen

This is from a manager at wyvern and another manager from another bus company so I can say its top notch however I can't say yet until its been announced publicly

Posts like these really annoy me on Forums, if you can't reveal the full details then don't bother posting, posts like this until it's official news.:-x

 

[F Great Eastern]

Another interesting point of view on Aircoach, not sure how reliable either of the posters are, but interesting neverless.

http://irishcoaches.yuku.com/topic/422/Re-Livery-Presentation-sign-of-a-sale?page=-1#.ULykB6z0LZY

When I was in Dublin last week I noticed that the fleet presentation, which has always been pristine and perfect anytime I have been there, has been let go a lot.

 

[tbtc]

Posts like these really annoy me on Forums, if you can't reveal the full details then don't bother posting, posts like this until it's official news.:-x

I agree - I can't see the point in posts like "I know something, but I'm not telling you what it is, but exciting things ahead - can't say any more though" (on any forum - not a specific criticism of this one)

 

[overthewater]

It was surpose to be the last one BUT two new piece of informations has turned up means a new company has appeared on the list, and another has seen reduced odds

#############################################

First in Northampton:
* betting withdrawn: For it to close down,
* 7/1: For the Depot to be sold off or with Leicester - changed

First Edinburgh
As it stands, there has been some strong talk that a number of interested parities are sniffing around, of course this could mean nothing but with this information
* Livingston EVANS:
* Musselburgh:, 15/8 for next year sell.
* Livingston and Muss sold off together: 13/8
* Scottish borders: 100/30 ( this odd is between 3/1 and 4/1)
* Larbart Or Stirling: 25/1


NEW First Glasgow No2:
DO NOT GET THIS MIXED up with FiG no1 which covers must of inner Glasgow, FiG no2 cover Dumbarton, Cumbernauld, Blntyre, Overtown.

http://www.tas.uk.net/content/index.php/news/98-bimperformance2012
Biggest loss-makers - Islwyn Borough Transport (20.2%) and East London Bus & Coach (11.9%), with First following with its Devon & Cornwall company on 9.3% and Glasgow No 2 business on 7.3%.

It should be point out and made clear, Dumbarton has been give 40 brand new buses. So its Lanarkshire that the trouble, in September a number of cut backs were put in place, but a new name was introduced. but with losses like that in SUCH what should be a great bus area is strange. First has already shut North Devon down to get rid of the loses......

* Any Depot BAR Dumbarton to be sold 6/4

London Depot
Go ahead has said it would like to get increase it operations in London but could winning contract be the better option? stagecoach was also suppose to be during Dagenham depot but pulled out over the price. London depot would make a better choice to get rid as it could pull in another £10million easily

* Any London Depot 6/4

Redditch and Kidderminster
No new ticket machines?

* 7/4 for a Sell off- changed

First Cornwall
Its been a rather bumpy ride this year, after its gain new council work etc, but strikes and continuing loses are not helping, but who would want to buy it
Or could it just lose its council work and just stuck to its pure core work?

* 15/8 for a Sell off - Changed

First Ipswich
Not big depot but after looking at the Fleet list and some of the recent service changes this could be classed as another underdog depot. Alot of P and R reg stock, nothing that stands out as a cash cow bar the park N ride which could be lost. How much will it cost to replace alot of the fleet even with T, X, reg which is also needed else where?

* 11/4 for a sell off - changed

First Berkshire There has been some talk about the operations around this company. Important facts, its first biggest profit company. The fleet is now not as bad as other place above or even below, while the routes do use older stock could it be another Wigan area? I have doubts since new stock keeps appearing and its been said NEW stock is on the way shortly which should kill off S & T reg buses. Dart 52 plate from London could be drafted in to replace older X reg darts. Unless someone else knows anything else? BUT just this week a solo was repainted in the new livery. Main reason why this is higher then Leicester? because it has older stock and will soon need replacing.

* 6/1 : Sell Off

First Leicester
Fleet is 100% DDA, the network is suppose to be doing great, why waste time, money and effort on a place which does not need it? Many places higher up in this list which needs first attention. But if the above cant make the full amount then something else has to go, and what better than a smaller network which is shared with someone else?

* 8/1: Sell Off

Irish Aircoach
Is the network looking vulnerable at the moment? Some people seem to think so but there also the battle with the publicly owned coach company bus eireann. So there could be a possibility there too, well remember first spent €16.5M for it in 2003:

exchange rate in 2003: £1.44 = €1 Or £1= €0.68
Today rate is €1 = £0.81

£13'399'518 just to get back what there spent. Could First get that at this moment of time? has Eire economy pick up enough? Will Bus Eireann be sold off? could first with a same amount of money make it better?

What other issues are there? Can anyone else say what there are?

* 20/1 for a sell off over the next 14 month...

Fun:
* First York: 50/1
* Aberdeen 100/1
* Manchester , Yorkshire, Glasgow No1 : 200/1[/QUOTE]

 

[Deerfold]

exchange rate in 2003: €1 = £ 1.44
Today rate is €1 = £0.8043

Your 2003 exchange rate is still wrong. €1 has never been worth more than £1.

 

[overthewater]

Your 2003 exchange rate is still wrong. €1 has never been worth more than £1.

I shall be changed by the end of the day.

 

[Ivo]

I shall be changed by the end of the day.

I should hope so, considering you've made the same mistake twice

Nonetheless, this whole betting thing has given an interesting perspective on the sell-off series, so thank you.

 

[overthewater]

I should hope so, considering you've made the same mistake twice

Nonetheless, this whole betting thing has given an interesting perspective on the sell-off series, so thank you.

I hope that is done, and the PC not given me the wrong details again. Thank you for your thanks, It is indeed interesting perspective to this whole process, and also make the facts more clear to people. Some people still believe Glasgow or Leeds etc will get the boots, as I've said if those place are getting sold off there is no hope left for first

 

[tbtc]

NEW First Glasgow No2:
DO NOT GET THIS MIXED up with FiG no1 which covers must of inner Glasgow, FiG no2 cover Dumbarton, Cumbernauld, Blntyre, Overtown.

http://www.tas.uk.net/content/index.php/news/98-bimperformance2012
Biggest loss-makers - Islwyn Borough Transport (20.2%) and East London Bus & Coach (11.9%), with First following with its Devon & Cornwall company on 9.3% and Glasgow No 2 business on 7.3%.

It should be point out and made clear, Dumbarton has been give 40 brand new buses. So its Lanarkshire that the trouble, in September a number of cut backs were put in place, but a new name was introduced. but with losses like that in SUCH what should be a great bus area is strange. First has already shut North Devon down to get rid of the loses......

* Any Depot BAR Dumbarton to be sold 6/4

FG2 is basically three companies - Dumbarton, Cumbernauld and Lanarkshire (yes, Cumbernauld is "north Lanarkshire", but "Lanarkshire" to me is more about the Hamilton/ Motherwell conurbation).

Dumbarton could be pretty much a stand alone operation (there are limited stop services into Glasgow but these are fairly isolated). I could see it fitting with McGills (who do a similar job on the other side of the Clyde).

Cumbernauld has been linked with Stagecoach before, but there would be competition issues I guess.

(South) Lanarkshire? A strange one. First have spent some money buying out competitors to try to shore up market share. It'd be a big operation for another company to take over, and potentially a rival company on some key corridors into Glasgow - that would be quite a risk for First.

I'd be interested in a break up.

 

[overthewater]

Back to Irish Aircoach, would it be worthwhile buy this company? would it be one of those lets sit on it and wait? I dare say in a few years time airport passengers go back up and if coach travel is privatisation in 2014 it could become a cash cow
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

FG2 is basically three companies - Dumbarton, Cumbernauld and Lanarkshire (yes, Cumbernauld is "north Lanarkshire", but "Lanarkshire" to me is more about the Hamilton/ Motherwell conurbation).

Dumbarton could be pretty much a stand alone operation (there are limited stop services into Glasgow but these are fairly isolated). I could see it fitting with McGills (who do a similar job on the other side of the Clyde).

Cumbernauld has been linked with Stagecoach before, but there would be competition issues I guess. (South) Lanarkshire? A strange one. First have spent some money buying out competitors to try to shore up market share. It'd be a big operation for another company to take over, and potentially a rival company on some key corridors into Glasgow - that would be quite a risk for First.

I'd be interested in a break up.

Cumbernauld and Motherwell are in North lanarkshire and Hamilton and East Kilbride are in South Lanarkshire

McGills start a new bus war in Dumbarton next Monday: http://www.mcgillsbuses.co.uk/news/new-dunbartonshire-routes-starting-10-dec.aspx The company brought Mc Colls buses operations and more importantly its licences/PM number http://www.mccolls.org.uk/news_archive.htm
So with the NEW 40 brand new buses and the war I doubt Dumbarton going anywhere.

What been suggested is that Overtown gets sold off and all the routes within Lanarkshire. Since the changes back in September all the Glasgow routes have been cut to stop in Hamilton etc, so everything has been spilt. What does this mean? I have no idea

 

[bb21]

Dorset have come a heck of a long way over the last year or two. Before this whole series was announced, it wouldn't have been a surprise to see Weymouth touted for sale - instead, it was quite possibly the first "smaller"/non-PTE operation to have the new livery. They have also been starting to make in-roads into the far more valuable market of Poole/Bournemouth.

They are only operating the Lytchett Matravers shuttle AFAIK, with some school contracts in Bournemouth. Am I missing something here?

In addition, when did they cut the winter runs on the X53 back to Lyme Regis?