Stagecoach North West Discussion

[Dallamlad]

Oh crap so when I said the outcome had been decided I was kinda right lol. I suppose that's why all the PB stuff is been prepared to move back down. Who the hell is going to buy this business.

21004 and 20546 on X1
Normal selection of Tridents on 2/2a so far.

 

[mbonwick]

Lancashire Evening Post is suggesting that Stagecoach have found a buyer and the deal will be complete within 5 months.

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Preston-Bus-selloff-set-to.5983862.jp

 

[Dallamlad]

Unless the buyer is a big mainstream company I can't see PB (or whatever it becomes) lasting. Stagecoach had the financial capability to pull PB through and deal with the debt of the company. What about jobs? I hope they will still be secure...

First Oly of the day is 16665 on the 2.

 

[darrenw29]

Seems like fun and games ahead, I wonder how it will work regarding the outstanding finance that was owed on PBs newer vehicles which stagecoach will have paid off, Might see some B10s going to PB and the Esteems staying (depending on how much the outstanding loans on these were) Just a thought!!!!!

 

[pickles]

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[K768 DAO]

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[jonesy3001]

My money is on Transdev.

Might be a long shot but i`m going for Arriva. They have the colours they used for the lakeslink open-toppers and they run services in the area.

 

[cainebj]

20436, 20779 and 20909 on 300.
20994 on 94 (bus on 94 usually does 1640 300 into Workington via Dearham diversion).
24122 (connections to Carlisle) on 38.
a B10M on 67 and 68.
a 67 / 68 Dart running as staff shuttle.
33162 on 101.
33161 on 95.
a Citi branded Dart on Brampton 685.
16397 on 554.
52627 used as Staff Shuttle.
52408 on 600 (listed Seasonal Reserve).
20943 and a Citi Dart i have forgotten identity of on 75.
42531 and a Citi Dart on 66.

ex North West S133 KRM (forgotten number) was on Stagecoach Western's X75.

16336 was in bodyshop at Carlisle.
14202 and 14207 were parked outside big shed. 14207 had "505" on side Vultron.
20908, 20924, 20965 and 14265 in workshop areas.
didn't see anything else really.

 

[Paul Mcgill]

Just short note 16667 was on 6/6As this afternoon with me driving took my Versa of for a MAN then after round trip i lost that too an got the volvo

 

[Dallamlad]

How come you lost two buses in an afternoon lol?

 

[Paul Mcgill]

How come you lost two buses in an afternoon lol?

Trying to catch up on seviceing i think they both went back for a service

 

[cainebj]

How come you lost two buses in an afternoon lol?

its not rare that it happens up here! often see a few bus changes happen on a route in the same day!

 

[Dallamlad]

Trying to catch up on servicing i think they both went back for a service

I see good stuff

I'm not sure what company would be best to take over PB...

 

[andy 37]

Carlisle paint shop

18155 - 18325 - 47024

Body shop

18372

 

[Gez.SCNW]

Lancashire Evening Post is suggesting that Stagecoach have found a buyer and the deal will be complete within 5 months.

my money is on complete within the next nine weeks

 

[Dallamlad]

Indeed what a shame. Oh well we can just all sit back and watch it crash and burn again lol (depending on the company you takes over of course)

16877 on the 40
14204 on the 2a.

 

[driver9000]

I dont think we should be writing Preston Bus off just yet, the company was going under previously but until we give the new owners - whoever they may be - a chance Im keeping hope alive that the 'new' Preston Bus prospers and with the right managment team and a sustainable network there is no reason why it shouldnt do well. I hope that Stagecoach gives the new company space to breath a little and dont do what a friend thinks and launch into an immediate suffocating war with the company killing them off before they even get going but its also my opinion that Stagecoach wouldnt want the traffic commission breathing down its neck so soon after the telling off and investigation by the competition commission.

To the 'new' Preston Bus company I wish you well and raise my glass to you

 

[mbonwick]

You're right Gez, 9 weeks sounds about right as that brings us to the end of the financial year.

 

[cainebj]

47203 on Workington Town Evening Services.
33167 on 2015 X5 to Cockermouth.
20761 on 301.
35249 came down into Workington from Stainburn area, with Workington 30 on display. guessing it had been on Maryport - Barepot 30's.

22598 was on 301 to West Cumberland Hospital before. not sure if it stayed on there or not seeing as it can't go all the way to Carlisle.

 

[Dave The Bus]

Lancashire Evening Post is suggesting that Stagecoach have found a buyer and the deal will be complete within 5 months.

http://www.lep.co.uk/news/Preston-Bus-selloff-set-to.5983862.jp

AT LAST.... I have been keeping a very low profile, because i didnt want to slip up about this, as i knew of this a couple of weeks before Christmas that PB would be sold no matter what the outcome of the CC appeal within 6 months..

Now back under my rock, as i have been warned about talking about company stuff on here, ALX400 may think i'm being a bit paranoid (he was there at the time) but i'm not finacinally secure enough to be unemployed just yet

 

[K768 DAO]

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[K777DAO]

Did anyone get any "Action Shots" of the Lynxes leaving? :roll:

 

[cainebj]

i thought the staff car park looked a little bare when we went past! could only see 1 lynx on there! expains why now hahaha

 

[K768 DAO]

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[K777DAO]

I wasn't there when they left, and Rich is away at the moment, so no.

Damn!

 

[robertclark125]

With regards to Preston Bus, as mentioned before, Stagecoach may have found a buyer. The task that buyer faces is making the company viable. If that means fare increases and service cuts, then that's he price to be paid, and it would appear the price that the CC would happily see. As long as the new owners don't do a Glenvale, and sell off the new buses and bring in ropey old double deckers.

 

[cainebj]

just been thinking about the routes moving to Preston Bus operations from Stagecoach operations!
the 6 MAN's were transferred to Preston to mainly run the 16, so would they be going to Preston Bus, or will the new owner just have to make the route step entrance again? (with the occasional Solo popping up) causing passengers to complain about lack of accessibility, which would show that Stagecoach would have been the best company to take over PB!

realistically, the new owners would have to take a step back a bit, sell off some of the newer buses and buy in older ones, to raise a bit of capital of which they can re-invest into Preston Bus to improve the services and operations as a whole. unless the new owner is willing to invest large amounts of cash straight into improving services provided in the sale etc.
it will take quite a bit of investment into how services are provided to turn PB around! and unless the new owner has the funds available to invest into that, replacing / disposing of assets could be the only way to do that!

then going back to the MANs. assume they do stay in Stagecoach, where would they end up? would they keep the 2 X reg ones to replace the 2 remaining B10M's, and send the 4 V reg's elsewhere? or would they keep all 6 in Preston and replace some of the old and rather useless Darts along with the 2 remaining B10M's?

looking at the average fleet age of Stagecoach North West as a whole, it will be improved quite a bit by the removal of the Preston Bus vehicles. it will also increase the percentage of wheelchair accessible buses in North West!

 

[K768 DAO]

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[cainebj]

i think it had pretty much everything on it. Lynx's, Oly's, Lolyne's, Esteem's and Solo's. Stagecoach just gave the 16 its own allocation of the MANs, and guaranteeing wheelchair accessibility, like they did on routes 14, 31 and 44 after removing the Metroriders.

 

[robertclark125]

Stagecoach Fife/Strathtay launch a new route X42 between Kirkcaldy and Dundee, via Glenrothes, Cupar, and Balmullo, in mid February. I believe PVR is a total of four vehicles. So, those 6 MAN's, which were all new to Fife, could, and I stress could, head back up north.