For Sale

[Tomjusttom]

This don't help first

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1512d88c-0995-11e2-a5a9-00144feabdc0.html#axzz289PFlBZE

[winston]

Ok so what will the 51 buses NX have bought be, besides the Presidents?

And if they get any enviros i can see them moving to replace mercs and others in Birmingham and Cov. I cant see what first are selling for the two depots as a fleet as the fleet is a mish mash of buses ranaging from fully DDA to just step less entry. I ask as 67312 has gone to Worcester so that limits what darts get moved as i cant see Nx wanting darts that are like 67312. And if i'm looking at it you could get rid of a batch of enviros say 67631-51 (20 in there) and 67600-04 (5) (25 so far about half of the 51), then what?
And if they have bought RH and KD one has to ask why them and not say Glasgow or Bath or somewhere where they can make a hit.

I would have thought that any sale would include the buses currently allocated to both depots, it was suggested that KR could lose the handful of 54 reg Dart SLFs & it appears that no step entry single / double deckers are included as they are being replaced by additional Tridents from Essex. I would take NXWM long to standardise a fleet of 51 if they desired, they currently have double the number of buses in reserve. If they do intend on growing / making a success of both operations new fleet investment needs to be the order of the day or good quality second hand vehicles

Doubt the Enviro's if included in the sale would move within NXWM as they are none standard, better to keep them at Redditch where engineers are experienced with them

[winston]

This don't help first

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/1512d88c-0995-11e2-a5a9-00144feabdc0.html#axzz289PFlBZE

The other thing that is seriously going to hurt First is the cancellation of the WCML franchise, I think First were banking on the revenue / profit from that to reduce their debts, hence why Firsts bid was so high, the list of Uk bus operations for sale may just have increased to include some of the tastier more urban operations that would fit with NXWM profile,

[jc]

The Deal should include;

67600/2/4/31-46 (Currently at Redditch - 19 Buses)
32857/60/2/77/81/2/4-6/94 (Currently at Redditch - 10 Buses)
67324, 67246, 67250, 67238, 67239, 67244, 67255, 61013, 61016 (Currently Floating Allocation - 9 Buses)
42889-91 (ADL Darts (Personally would expect these to have moved to Worcester) Currently at Kidderminster - 3 Buses)
43475, 42180, 42402-6, 42641, 42455 (Variety of Darts Currently at Kidderminster - 9 Buses)

I could be wrong with several of these, 42889-91 i would expect to move to Worcester with them being the 'better darts', The Lances make up the 'big bus' fleet at Kidderminster so i would assume they would be included in the deal unless First Group want to give up some of there newer buses to swap with them.

[winston]

The Deal should include;

67600/2/4/31-46 (Currently at Redditch - 19 Buses)
32857/60/2/77/81/2/4-6/94 (Currently at Redditch - 10 Buses)
67324, 67246, 67250, 67238, 67239, 67244, 67255, 61013, 61016 (Currently Floating Allocation - 9 Buses)
42889-91 (ADL Darts (Personally would expect these to have moved to Worcester) Currently at Kidderminster - 3 Buses)
43475, 42180, 42402-6, 42641, 42455 (Variety of Darts Currently at Kidderminster - 9 Buses)

I could be wrong with several of these, 42889-91 i would expect to move to Worcester with them being the 'better darts', The Lances make up the 'big bus' fleet at Kidderminster so i would assume they would be included in the deal unless First Group want to give up some of there newer buses to swap with them.

That's JC, that's pretty much what I thought would be sold with the businesses.

Just out of interest, do you have any idea what the maximum capacity both KR & RH can hold?

[jc]

It would depend on the size of the buses being used, back in the day Redditch could hold about 60+ Merc 608D's (I feel old now!) but with Enviros and Deckers you could get about 45-50 in there. Kidderminster can hold about 40, its a purpose built garage there.

[winston]

It would depend on the size of the buses being used, back in the day Redditch could hold about 60+ Merc 608D's (I feel old now!) but with Enviros and Deckers you could get about 45-50 in there. Kidderminster can hold about 40, its a purpose built garage there.

Thanks JC, I thought Kiddiminster capacity was around double the current allocation, it was just Redditch that I had no clue as FMR once had Church Road as well

[andy]

It would depend on the size of the buses being used, back in the day Redditch could hold about 60+ Merc 608D's (I feel old now!) but with Enviros and Deckers you could get about 45-50 in there. Kidderminster can hold about 40, its a purpose built garage there.

Thanks JC, I thought Kiddiminster capacity was around double the current allocation, it was just Redditch that I had no clue as FMR once had Church Road as well

It just goes to show how badly First have run this once vibrant business into the ground doesn't it? I feel sorry for the operations that get left behind like Hereford and Worcester as they will be even more isolated and no attempt will be made to revamp or integrate services or networks when there are only 2 depots.

What implications for instance will this deal have on overlapping areas and what each operator is allowed to do?

First are going to end up with a few well performing individual depots up and down the UK that don't link to anything and that is not a good model for a bus operator in my opinion.

[jc]

Church Road was more the engineering department and vehicle prep area which was moved to Worcester and Engineering is done at Kidderminster when major work is needed.

On a side note the bus wash at Plymouth Road can take Bendy's ;-)

I can honestly see First coming back in 6 months to a year and saying ''do you want Hereford and Worcester?''

[PM]

Just hope the rumours are true-come on NXWM make MRW a success and hope Rotala get Wigan

[winston]

On a side note the bus wash at Plymouth Road can take Bendy's ;-)

Does Redditch depot want 10 x Merc 0405GN artics, one careful owner???

[winston]

I can honestly see First coming back in 6 months to a year and saying ''do you want Hereford and Worcester?''

You may be right after todays news of First Group having their WCML contract cancelled, I think they were banking on that to help start & sort out some of their debt mountain. There may well be a second tranche of First disposals on the table yet......

[sconehead85]

Just hope the rumours are true-come on NXWM make MRW a success and hope Rotala get Wigan

Rotala have supposedly bitten off more than they could chew with Preston.  I think Stagecoach will get Wigan (I know this isnt West Midlands/Mercia sorry) as they have a depot in Chorley. 

sconehead85

[PM]

Just hope the rumours are true-come on NXWM make MRW a success and hope Rotala get Wigan

Rotala have supposedly bitten off more than they could chew with Preston.  I think Stagecoach will get Wigan (I know this isnt West Midlands/Mercia sorry) as they have a depot in Chorley. 

sconehead85

Bitten off more than they could chew?? And just because another company runs near doesnt mean theyll get it-in fact it can be quite the opposite in the days of mmc etc

[winston]

Just hope the rumours are true-come on NXWM make MRW a success and hope Rotala get Wigan

Rotala have supposedly bitten off more than they could chew with Preston.  I think Stagecoach will get Wigan (I know this isnt West Midlands/Mercia sorry) as they have a depot in Chorley. 

sconehead85

Wigan seems a decent size business when compared with the combined KR & RH bits of Wyvern, I believe there would be scope to expand by buying up independents such as South Lancs Travel etc