First Manchester

[Brickmill]

RE: First Manchester

(10/04/2019 21:54)gilesbus1 Wrote:  Is there some hint that there is no buyer for Bolton or Oldham, I know Julian Peddle stated that everything wasn't worth more than £1 in buses magazine, and it seems strange no announcement has been made on anything else, although Rotala yesterday refused to say anything on anything specific, but stated to expect a larger purchase to be made by them later in the year, is that also linked to the situation at Bolton and or Oldham? or have they something else in mind?

The bidders after all seem to be diminishing/vanishing, or can we expect an announcement to say that TfGM is taking it over in some kind of caretaker role?, or is it to be closed and other operators register across the lot and then Stagecoach would compensate in other area's by De-registering competing routes elsewhere in Scotland, South Yorkshire or Southern England? Which First possibly need in South Yorkshire or Central Scotland in order to return those subsidiaries to profit also? When I say this, I mean gradually withdraw the odd competing service here and there or pass on the odd linking service between territories onward, such as Perth - Stirling, or Barnsley - Leeds and then First register it?

I am sure if this did happen then Stagecoach could acquire assets separately such as Bolton depot and various vehicles on the secondhand market, as presumably they couldn't get enough stock internally quickly enough?

Or perhaps we have all misunderstood the situation with First and the sale only applies to Queens Road and the rest remains indefinitely with FirstGroup as the £11.2 Million alters the Manchester situation to profit allowing them to continue till that money has been exhausted? which would be approx two years.

Briefly,
I would not take much notice of what a venture capitalist says in an increasingly business orientated magazine. Julian Peddle probably couldn't even find Bolton on a map.
The market in South Yorkshire and further afield has no relevance to Oldham. If, First simply close Oldham it would leave Stagecoach with monopoly of commercial servicesunledd GA take an interest. Stagecoach accomodating ex First work at Hyde Road depot in particular may depend on various factors but with continued De-reg or worse still Stagecoach's vision of an EQP combined with DfT failing to pay for the demands of the Clean Air Act, I can see the further major cuts in HE run services. Word is under franchising, Hyde Road corridor is UNDER bussed and that's based on peak times at the Manchester end of the routes. Finally, don't forget any negotations on company sales are idle speculation are highly confidential so forums such as this should stick to FACTs