Predictions for 2023

[B61 ANDREW]

Purely by recent observations of passenger loadings, First Worcester to further truncate the 144 by withdrawing the Bromsgrove - Catshill section. Also to eradicate the Salt Road green livery. 

[Abluhwleh]

My prediction for 2023, Sprint Network is cancelled!

[Stu]

My prediction for 2023, Sprint Network is cancelled!

It's definitely going ahead.

[hlliwmai]

Well we are into the second month of the year and Rotala haven't announced they've bought any companies (yet!...) I saw a post on Facebook either yesterday or the day before that it was exactly a year when they announced they had agreed a deal to purchase Claribels how time flies so with that said I wonder who it'll be this year... 

[Stu]

Well we are into the second month of the year and Rotala haven't announced they've bought any companies (yet!...) I saw a post on Facebook either yesterday or the day before that it was exactly a year when they announced they had agreed a deal to purchase Claribels how time flies so with that said I wonder who it'll be this year...

To be fair there aren't really that many smaller operators left in the West Midlands area. There are only three that spring to mind, Banga, Kevs and Landflight, then perhaps Chaserider?

(Apologies to any others I may have overlooked!)

[2206]

To be fair there aren't really that many smaller operators left in the West Midlands area. There are only three that spring to mind, Banga, Kevs and Landflight, then perhaps Chaserider?

(Apologies to any others I may have overlooked!)

Lets Go, Select Buses and Green Bus. Not sure of any others.
Chaserider also being a subsidary of D&G.

[the trainbasher]

Well we are into the second month of the year and Rotala haven't announced they've bought any companies (yet!...) I saw a post on Facebook either yesterday or the day before that it was exactly a year when they announced they had agreed a deal to purchase Claribels how time flies so with that said I wonder who it'll be this year...

You never know

To be fair there aren't really that many smaller operators left in the West Midlands area. There are only three that spring to mind, Banga, Kevs and Landflight, then perhaps Chaserider?

(Apologies to any others I may have overlooked!)

Who's to say, if they do buy an op, that it would be a WM based one...
I mean, maybe they might buy out one of the smaller groups one day

[Tony]

To be fair there aren't really that many smaller operators left in the West Midlands area. There are only three that spring to mind, Banga, Kevs and Landflight, then perhaps Chaserider?

(Apologies to any others I may have overlooked!)

Don't forget 'Let's Go'

[B61 ANDREW]

You never knowWho's to say, if they do buy an op, that it would be a WM based one...
I mean, maybe they might buy out one of the smaller groups one day

Maybe in time one of the "bigger" operators will put an offer in for Diamond/Rotala ??   

[hlliwmai]

Maybe in time one of the "bigger" operators will put an offer in for Diamond/Rotala ??   

I think that in the long run is what Simon wants tbh I think he wants one of these big Investment or Transport Groups (these are examples the likes of RATP; Abellio or Transdev giving the West Midlands a go amongst others) to buy out Rotala as an entity then he could retire or whatever then Diamond gets rebranded as something new/different of course I'm not saying that either of those companies would be interested but who knows what could happen stranger things have

[Ginger66]

I think that in the long run is what Simon wants tbh I think he wants one of these big Investment or Transport Groups (these are examples the likes of RATP; Abellio or Transdev giving the West Midlands a go amongst others) to buy out Rotala as an entity then he could retire or whatever then Diamond gets rebranded as something new/different of course I'm not saying that either of those companies would be interested but who knows what could happen stranger things have

It would be interesting if Abellio went for it as the group already as a vested interest in the west Midlands, as they run the local trains

[hlliwmai]

It would be interesting if Abellio went for it as the group already as a vested interest in the west Midlands, as they run the local trains

With that being said thinking about it I don't suppose National Express would have any interest in Rotala and even if they were at some point I'm not entirely sure if the monopolies commission would allow it to happen @Tony I'm sure you would know the answer 

[BK63 YWP]

It would be interesting if Abellio went for it as the group already as a vested interest in the west Midlands, as they run the local trains

Abellio has sold the franchise to Transport group UK, the deal is being finalised this year