Messages

Dear DD12,

Sorry I have not responded before - I am not noticed the message.

If a Business of this size, location and type was for sale if we were invited to look at the business we would.  I am aware according to the statutory accounts filed at Companies House the performance has declined considerably over the last few years.

With regards whether we would acquire it?  We believe we have the means today to make a competitive offer for a Business of this size. 

My one concern around this business, would be the need to be comfortable with the CMA response to any acquisition.



Simon

Thanks very much Simon.

Sorry if this question has been asked, and answered before (I only occasionally visit this forum, and there are hundreds of posts !) -

- Please could someone confirm my impression that ROTALA is a group of companies that ONLY do bus and coach operation (?), and that ROTALA does not have any other (significant) interests ??

Thanks.

Dear Mr.Dunn,
- (Here's an odd one for you !!) -
Bearing in mind how difficult it is currently, to run a profitable bus company, -
IF First were to put their Worcester operation up for sale (at an attractive price),
- how likely do you think it is that the ROTALA group would buy it ??

- That's also bearing in-mind Worcester's frequent traffic jams - with masses of new housing planned, but with inadequate roads !

Thanks !

Showing on the latest fleet list as 'Long Term Reserve'

According to the midlandred.net  forum, it has been at Worcester to donate it's engine, and some front-end body parts.

It was parked outside at the beginning of last week, so I guess it's next trip will be to the breakers.

Thanks for the link Cedric .

Could anyone kindly update those of us in the Worcester Area, as to how the KIDDERMINSTER and REDDITCH operations are succeeding (or not) ?
- Things like profitability, service reliability; "on-the-up" or "going downhill" (?), would be very interesting to me.

I have a lot of sympathy for small operators trying to "make it pay" in today's conditions etc.

IF anyone wants to reply, you could do so on the  midlandred.net  forum if you wish.

Thanks.

Would be a shame if they couldn't be placed elsewhere. Nice clump of Solo's the Wyvern ones.

I agree;  - we could do with them "coming back" to Worcester to replace the slightly older ones -
- I don't imagine they had a hard life at Hereford !

Repainting 32633 when it was only done 3 years ago. You'd think one of the Gemini's in the old first group livery still would be better candidates. However it is not exactly surprising for First is it?!
You'd think management would use the opportunity of these heritage liveries to repaint 3 Gemini's from the old first livery. However, instead, lets repaint a vehicle done only a few years ago. Why am I not surprised....

I think the recent livery which I call "Olympia" ( ... and may be called  "Urban 1"  ?)  is appalling, and I personally wouldn't criticise First for repainting them first !

Yep for the non - local it would seem a little mixed up but the Worcester city routes 30/32/33/34/35 are all interworked to some degree with other routes (Route 30 double decker running boards are stand alone) . The  31 is generally standalone using Solos. The 44/ 144 + Evesham services are generally standalone too, except some late 144 journeys may be off a 44 or city route. Because of the size of Worcester this does make sense in order to minimise vehicle requirements.

Thanks for that summary  j789  !

Has anyone seen 32066 in the Potteries ?
It was last allocated to Worcester, but has been "missing",  and has been reported as possibly with "YOU" !

Any info. please ?

My impression is that the raft of depot closures around First was imposed by the top management rather than local MDs.

MAYBE once a depot closure has been done, it is easier to set-up a minimum-cost outstation if desired (perhaps ?).

I'm very glad that the MD is flexible enough in his thinking, and I think there MAY be a case for a minimum-cost outstation in "my" area to help support service reliability( - which I perceive as "seriously failing" because of worsening, serious traffic delays), -  POSSIBLY using drivers from the main depot on a separate dedicated rota ?
There are lots of different options, but I realise they need to be "workable" and economically viable.

The midlandred.net fleetlist via link above is "bang up to date" -
the only other buses at the depot (that I've seen) are 53060, 63 (ex Hereford) which have had work done on them, and are now parked alongside the fence.
My GUESS is they will move to Potteries.

The 44 does need 'deckers on lots of the London Road workings and some of the Malvern workings.
I have been made uncomfortable just SEEING overloaded enviro 300s since the new September timetables, with customers having to stand for ages on the buses which are often stuck in the ever-worsening traffic.

I think the 144 is also long overdue for some new ones, to improve reliability, and improve the customer's experience  -
-  after-all, Brum is England's "second city" !

For the poster who wanted to know, the January PVR at Worcester according to First's planned fleetlist will be 72 from an allocation of 80.

THANKS  Barry !

Kidderminster at one time had a small fleet of deckers mainly two from the 3812* batch for GB work (Redditch had the other two and Lance 67241 for this work). At this time (around 2005) they also gained Trident 33404 as a back up vehicle, this would have only been a year or two old at the time and there were plans to allocate it permanently, 33402 at Evesham garage too.

In later First Group years 31452 had seen use from Kidderminster depot, mostly on service 3, but it did however manage at least a turn on the X3.

In the later 2000's a pair of former Glasgow and Evesham 31378 and 31379 were stored at Kidderminster awaiting scrap, 31455 would later join them there.

THANKS  JC.