Proposed NX takeover of Stagecoach

[2206]

Nationally, National Express is better known as a coach operator, they only operate buses in the West Midlands now, whereas Stagecoach is a well known name for bus operations across the UK. So I suppose there is the possibility that NX West Midlands and NX Coventry could be added to the existing Stagecoach Midlands operations. But still, that would require a lot of work to get 1500+ vehicles repainted and reliveried.

I can't see the need to repaint the familiar crimson/platinum vehicles in the West Mids into Stagecoach livery,  even if they were renamed to "stagecoach" would make sense to keep the local livery.
Otherwise maybe a NX Warwickshire fleetname perhaps running the routes in the Stratford, Warwick, etc areas as that area is next to the West Midlands?

[BK63 YWP]

If this merger would to happen, I could see similar mergers happening with first and Arriva?

In regards to brands would say to drop the Stagecoach new livery and maybe have two tone variations around the country? Drop the NX name for a simple area name (excluding cities like Manchester who wants to go down the line as Transport for GM buses)

Xplore South West as a region operator and maybe likes of Plymouth getting a localised brand?

Obviously speculation there but with NX having the bigger share, they will have the final say on branding and restructuring.

[Stu]

I can't see the need to repaint the familiar crimson/platinum vehicles in the West Mids into Stagecoach livery,  even if they were renamed to "stagecoach" would make sense to keep the local livery.
Otherwise maybe a NX Warwickshire fleetname perhaps running the routes in the Stratford, Warwick, etc areas as that area is next to the West Midlands?

Like I said, "possibility". And also like I said "I don't really see much changing, maybe not at first anyway".

But then again, its not the likes of you or me who will be making these decisions, who knows what they've got planned for the long-term strategy.

[Ginger66]

I think there would be some major reorganisation of operations to reflect the new company [If the merger goes ahead}

Such as the Stagecoach East Midlands [East Midland Operations], Stagecoach Midlands and NX West Midlands been one operating brand.

[Steveminor]

Could be wrong but I don't think any stagecoach business uses cash vaults so interchanging of vehicles between nx & stagecoach would be unlikely so they could keep separate identities.

[2206]

Could be wrong but I don't think any stagecoach business uses cash vaults so interchanging of vehicles between nx & stagecoach would be unlikely so they could keep separate identities.

Can they not install the cash vaults if needed?
The exact fare policy has always worked in the West Mids, so could work elsewhere as well.

[Tony]

Can they not install the cash vaults if needed?

Of course you can, and it is even easier to remove them, see fleetnumbers 729 & 730 acquired from ATG group for examples

[the trainbasher]

Pity London has that annoying 100% rule in place otherwise Crimson would have been ideal for that fleet (isn't one of the Crimson Reds near enough the same as the London red?

Plus tbf the current route branding style is way better that what London trialled

[mikestone]

Presumably in normal circumstances the competition authorities would have insisted on the sale of Stagecoach's Warwickshire operation, but who knows now?

[Steveminor]

Of course you can, and it is even easier to remove them, see fleetnumbers 729 & 730 acquired from ATG group for examples

Easy enough to say & yes easy enough to do but why waste the time energy and money when you can just compartmentalise the fleets

[metrocity]

Presumably in normal circumstances the competition authorities would have insisted on the sale of Stagecoach's Warwickshire operation, but who knows now?

The other challenge is that Coventry is due to be 100% electric bus within a couple of years making the operation less attractive for an acqusition

[ellspurs]

To be fair, would there be a competition review on the bus operation? The only corridors NX and Stagecoach compete on are the Nuneaton - Coventry and Coventry - Warwick Uni - Leamington corridors. Stagecoach operate within all the major towns and villages in Warwickshire (except Coleshill/Water Orton).

The main issue would be with the coach operations, as there aren't any nationwide options for coach apart from Megabus and National Express. Flixbus hasn't spread out so widely let, and the services from Bharat and Thandi are geared at certain communities. I could envision Megabus being sold out to someone, with Oxford Tube and some other popular direct services being retained.

[Steveminor]

I believe flixbus hold a considerable market share at present a they share concentrating on the more lucrative services

[ellspurs]

I believe flixbus hold a considerable market share at present a they share concentrating on the more lucrative services

I hadn't thought that Flixbus had spread out as far in the UK yet. I know they're extensive in Europe (and I had an excellent journey using them from Poznan to Berlin and back), but I only see 49 UK stops on their map, a high proportion of which in the South West.

[Steveminor]

They have Manchester Leeds Liverpool & the Scotland services, they've been quietly growing their network.

Note Thandi are no longer a flixbus operator hence the step back at present from Midlands operations