First Group: General Discussion

[GaryMcEwan]

I would've thought Glasgow would get a fair bit too. There are rumours around as well which seem very interesting, but I'm not going to admit what it is yet.

The ex Parkhead Tridents and Presidents badly need replacing. Capacity is always going to an issue in Glasgow though.

 

[overthewater]

Just to ask About the new Role for Andrew Javis?

The move also marks a restructuring of First’s Scottish operations, as Mr Jarvis becomes MD of Glasgow and Scotland. The MD at First Bus’s other Scottish businesses, Aberdeen and Scotland East, will report to Mr Jarvis.

I take it hes the MD for all of Firstbus Scotland? What the point in Paul McGowan and David Phillips It just feels like Jarvis roles is not needed.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Just to ask About the new Role for Andrew Javis?



I take it hes the MD for all of Firstbus Scotland? What the point in Paul McGowan and David Phillips It just feels like Jarvis roles is not needed.

Isn't he just a replacement for Fiona Kerr in Glasgow but as he's a senior guy, the other two are reporting into him?

 

[overthewater]

Isn't he just a replacement for Fiona Kerr in Glasgow but as he's a senior guy, the other two are reporting into him?

Yes he is replacing Fiona Kerr in Glasgow but it seems he taken on a bigger roles aswell. He will still report to First UK Bus Divisional Director Dave Alexander.

Yet the MD for Manchester and just Manchester will report First UK Bus Divisional Director Dave Alexander.

So why does Aberdeen and Scotland East have to go via a Middle man?

 

[THarris123]

Yes he is replacing Fiona Kerr in Glasgow but it seems he taken on a bigger roles aswell. He will still report to First UK Bus Divisional Director Dave Alexander.

Yet the MD for Manchester and just Manchester will report First UK Bus Divisional Director Dave Alexander.

So why does Aberdeen and Scotland East have to go via a Middle man?

Doesn't West of England do something similar? Andrew Sherrington is MD for Bath, Weston and Wells, then James Freeman is the MD for West of England and Simon Ford is the regional manager for West of England and Wales. Remember it is much easier to have more middle management - if the sh*t hits the fan, then there's less chance of sacking the management higher up. Also its a brilliant way to waste more money and increase costs.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Yes he is replacing Fiona Kerr in Glasgow but it seems he taken on a bigger roles aswell. He will still report to First UK Bus Divisional Director Dave Alexander.

Yet the MD for Manchester and just Manchester will report First UK Bus Divisional Director Dave Alexander.

So why does Aberdeen and Scotland East have to go via a Middle man?

So that Dave Alexander doesn't have so many direct reports. The Potteries, Leicester and Worcester GMs report into Nigel Eggleton as Mids MD. Assume that Phil Medlicott has a direct line to Alexander because of the sheer size of First GM.

Only an idiot would expect Dave Alexander to have a direct report from each OpCo

 

[swifty]

Doesn't West of England do something similar? Andrew Sherrington is MD for Bath, Weston and Wells, then James Freeman is the MD for West of England and Simon Ford is the regional manager for West of England and Wales. Remember it is much easier to have more middle management - if the sh*t hits the fan, then there's less chance of sacking the management higher up. Also its a brilliant way to waste more money and increase costs.

No they don't. James Freeman is the Managing Director of FWoE and each operating area has a general manager under him with Andrew Sherrington responsible for the country ops and another GM responsible for Bristol.

 

[Volvodart]

Isn't he just a replacement for Fiona Kerr in Glasgow but as he's a senior guy, the other two are reporting into him?

Fiona Kerr was appointed to this new position, in addition to the Glagsow MD, in March last year.

 

[Strathclyder]

The ex Parkhead Tridents and Presidents badly need replacing. Capacity is always going to an issue in Glasgow though.

Tridents/Presidents are one and the same in the case of the ex-Parkhead stock. Only Presidents not mounted on a Trident chassis in the Glasgow fleet are the 6 Volvo B7TLs based at Scotstoun (32300-32305). I'll take me pendant's hat off now lol

But yeah, the oldest of the ex-Parkhead Tridents are pretty much on their last legs, same goes for the B7Ls. On the flipside, the B10BLEs (delivered at the same time as the B7Ls in 2001/2002) look set to last for some time yet. A through refurbishment would do them wonders...

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Fiona Kerr was appointed to this new position, in addition to the Glasgow MD, in March last year.

So it's a like for like replacement!

Still holds - he's the senior person with "local" MDs reporting into him otherwise Dave Alexander would have a dozen or more people reporting into him.

 

[overthewater]

Its DAY D tomorrow for the new MD for First Glasgow, one has to wonder what plans are afoot, since he had 6 months to think up stuff.

 

[DragonEast]

N&P have a raft of changes coming up in North and mid-Essex. Either the usual tinkering, or just perhaps the first sign of a PVR reduction? Certainly from the state of the buses their engineering seem to be having an (unsurprising) difficulty in adequately maintaining the number of vehicles they have in the fleet, to add to the congestion woes caused not least by their urban bus jams. And with no evident recovery plan to improve things in sight . . .

 

[nesw]

N&P have a raft of changes coming up in North and mid-Essex. Either the usual tinkering, or just perhaps the first sign of a PVR reduction? Certainly from the state of the buses their engineering seem to be having an (unsurprising) difficulty in adequately maintaining the number of vehicles they have in the fleet, to add to the congestion woes caused not least by their urban bus jams. And with no evident recovery plan to improve things in sight . . .

Some of the changes are already on Traveline and it's a mixture of measures to mitigate traffic congestion and also it would appear, a slight PVR reduction.

 

[DragonEast]

Some of the changes are already on Traveline and it's a mixture of measures to mitigate traffic congestion and also it would appear, a slight PVR reduction.

Yep, it looks that way. Dozing along, as usual. Someone, I think, needs to come along and give them a good shake up!hock:

 

[overthewater]

It seems Leeds are due a big order of new buses:

http://www.route-one.net/articles/Politics/Huge_investment_on_the_cards_for_buses_in_Leeds

inalisation of a deal to secure £173.5m of funding for transport in Leeds is planned to see major changes to buses, with a very ambitious target to double passenger numbers over the next 10 years


First West Yorkshire remains committed to £71m of fleet investment
Public transport in Leeds received a major shot in the arm last week when it was confirmed that the DfT has expressed its support for a £173.5m funding package for a number of integrated transport improvements in the city, with buses at the forefront.

The money was tentatively secured following the decision a year ago to scrap the proposed New Generation Transport (NGT) trolleybus scheme.

£173.5m had been set aside for NGT, and since then the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) has been working with the DfT on the terms of its transfer.

Buses at the front

But what does it mean for buses in Leeds? Lots, because additional support from WYCA and other stakeholders is expected to take the total available to in excess of £270m.

Significantly, the city’s largest operator, First West Yorkshire (FWY), has confirmed that it remains committed to its pledge to invest £71m in what it describes as “at least 284 ultra-low emission buses” by the end of 2020.

FWY’s figures indicate a spend of around £250,000 per bus, suggesting that they will not be conventional diesels.

The operator protested strongly against NGT, to the extent of sourcing a New Routemaster that was used as an example of what could be offered at much lower cost.

FWY’s argument was that the money then earmarked for trolleybuses would be better spent on conventional buses and infrastructure improvements, and that was vindicated when NGT was thrown out.

At the time, FWY also stated that development of hybrid buses into full electric power was possible later in their lives, and it described NGT as “outdated 100-year old trolleybus technology.”

On last week’s announcement, FWY Managing Director Paul Matthews says: “This is the first major step towards transforming Leeds’ transport network and I am proud that FWY is a pivotal part of it.

“It’s hugely important that we continue to work in partnership with Leeds City Council (LCC) and WYCA so that we can tackle the issue of congestion, thereby improving the reliability of services and encouraging more people to travel by bus.”

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

It seems Leeds are due a big order of new buses:

http://www.route-one.net/articles/Politics/Huge_investment_on_the_cards_for_buses_in_Leeds

Yep, think it was discussed when first announced late last year http://news.leeds.gov.uk/over-180million-bus-improvements-proposed-in-new-transport-plan-for-leeds

Edit- see message #5444

 

[overthewater]

Has any more news appeared yet about First group order for this year?

 

[Robertj21a]

Has any more news appeared yet about First group order for this year?

Sounds like there may be a few loose ends still outstanding. Wouldn't be surprised if there are a few unhappy MDs.

 

[Goldfish62]

Sounds like there may be a few loose ends still outstanding. Wouldn't be surprised if there are a few unhappy MDs.

First Kernow have announced on their FB site that they're getting more new buses this year, so a formal announcement can't be that far off.

 

[F Great Eastern]

Aircoach getting at least 6 coaches it was confirmed last week.

No idea on exact numbers or types.

 

[THarris123]

First Kernow have announced on their FB site that they're getting more new buses this year, so a formal announcement can't be that far off.

New E400s for Penzance. Not sure which route for though. Maybe FSW can confirm?

 

[FSW Official]

New E400s for Penzance. Not sure which route for though. Maybe FSW can confirm?

Where did you get the idea that there are new E400s for Penzance?

 

[Robertj21a]

Where did you get the idea that there are new E400s for Penzance?

Presumably, the parallel world of fantasy that is perennially evident on this forum.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Hence why I get irked with rampant speculation that gets posted and then gets a momentum of its own.

Think there was a comment on the FK FB page (after I went hunting for it) about new buses and a Truro area service. However, I'm ok if FSW doesn't wish to tell us for a while!

 

[FSW Official]

Hence why I get irked with rampant speculation that gets posted and then gets a momentum of its own.

Think there was a comment on the FK FB page (after I went hunting for it) about new buses and a Truro area service. However, I'm ok if FSW doesn't wish to tell us for a while!

'Likely to be used in the east of our network' is what we said

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

'Likely to be used in the east of our network' is what we said

That wasn't the quote I was referring to

"The fare rise doesn't mean new buses for the 27- it's to cover the rising costs of operating. However, we are likely to put brand new double deckers into the 27 later this year when we take delivery of more new buses"

 

[FSW Official]

That wasn't the quote I was referring to

"The fare rise doesn't mean new buses for the 27- it's to cover the rising costs of operating. However, we are likely to put brand new double deckers into the 27 later this year when we take delivery of more new buses"

Still no mention of Penzance.
I've worked out the ruse. As a question that's got some likely duff info in it, and hope I'll reply with the facts!!!

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Still no mention of Penzance.
I've worked out the ruse. As a question that's got some likely duff info in it, and hope I'll reply with the facts!!!

 

[FSW Official]

I wasn't mentioning Penzance.

Are you alleging that Mr Harris is deliberately putting forward incorrect information as a way of tricking you into correcting him with commercially sensitive accurate information......??

Could be lol. Cheeky little chap!

 

[THarris123]

Where did you get the idea that there are new E400s for Penzance?

I was informed by several members of staff in BoS.