First Manchester

[Mayneway]

RE: First Manchester

(08/07/2022 12:29)Mrboo Wrote:  I tell you what going to happen just like TFL they will say to anyone bidding they need to lease buses or buy some that meet there standard. and it be down to who bids to sort out depots but TFGM will Tupe over drivers for routes but drivers will most likey strike if they find they moving depots.and I don't wish working for abellio North west if they win your depot. if like London they treat staff like dog sh*t.

Again, the depots are not up for tender only groups of routes.

[Michael]

RE: First Manchester

(08/07/2022 16:16)Mayneway Wrote:  Again, the depots are not up for tender only groups of routes.

The depots are up for tender....wigan..bolton December 2022...Middleton Queens Rd oldham summer 2023...ashton hyde rd stockport Sherston arriva wythenshawe Apr 24....stagecoach have advised that foe example if they lose hyde rd but gain Queens Rd we will be allowed to transfer

[Michael]

RE: First Manchester
I think the confusion arisesbecause the francising is been done in 2 sections the large franchises & the small franchises ...I think there is 20 contracts for 15 buses which foe example the likes of stotts & goodwins might bid for but the winners of the large franchises can also bi's for these as well...schools are remaining the same as now

[iMarkeh]

RE: First Manchester
Quote from Buses Magazine.

Quote:Who owns what?

The parallel process of privatisation in London as contracting was introduced made some decisions easier. As the existing London Buses subsidiaries were sold off, they purchased the buses, and in most cases, the depots that they used at the time. A handful of depots were retained in public ownership, some which were surplus, and others which had complicated usage rights that mitigated against a straightforward sale. Greater Manchester starts from the point of owning no depots, and almost no buses – the exceptions are the fleet of hybrid and electric Optare Versas used on the Manchester free bus, run by Go North West, and around 50 school buses. These too are mostly Versas and are rented out, principally to smaller operators, for use on the contracts that go with them.

So GM hopes to buy depots from the existing operators, which would then be leased to its contractors. There is no guarantee the current owners would want to sell, especially if redevelopment for an alternative use proves a more lucrative option. Indeed, Stagecoach's Stockport depot was part of an active project planned by the local council that would have seen the depot move elsewhere, to be replaced by housing. However – and whether it has been influenced by the franchising proposals is unclear – funding allocated to the Daw Bank site has since been withdrawn.

In London, should a new operator arrive, it isresponsible for finding its own premises. This is easier for a single route with perhaps 15 to 20 buses, rather than a TfGM franchise contract which, we are told, will comprise of 34 to 185 buses.

Greater Manchester is therefore considering two options if it cannot agree terms to acquire existing depots. The first is to pursue a Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO). The authority says it has the powers, dating back to the Transport Act 1968, but it is unclear as to whether a CPO has ever been used to acquire a depot before, or even if it is acceptable for a CPO to be used in this way. Even if it is, it can take two to three years for the process to produce results.

The alternative now being considered is to set up multiple smaller depots, in some of the many light industrial estates that are liberally sprinkled across the north of the area, if not quite so numerous in the south. GMCA says these would be a temporary option, pending the construction of new, bigger depots in the future. In essence, this is not unlike some existing sites, such as Stagecoach's Ashton and Middleton depots, or that once used by Manchester Community Transport in Chadderton, and the now-abandoned depot First acquired from Stuarts in Dukinfield.

From one of the most respected industry news outlets.

https://www.keybuses.com/article/greater...ranchising





Quote from the GMCA consultation report in June 2020.

Quote:
7.2.4 The Assessment set out that the steady state model for strategic depots is that they would be controlled by GMCA in order to remove a key barrier to entry for bidders for large franchises. This supports the commercial model’s objective of delivering value for money by removing barriers to entry, driving competition, and creating an enduring market for franchising.

https://greatermanchester-ca.gov.uk/medi...-draft.pdf (page 226)



TFGM want control of the depots for large franchises.

[Metroline1511]

RE: First Manchester

(08/07/2022 12:23)Mrboo Wrote:  Someone has got the wrong end of the stick. TFGM are to offer a price most depots would be better being closed and then turned into housing they may get more money. As most will need new depots if they wish to have charging points as they work better being just a open yard with a few indoor pits. you have to think who going to want to own the buses at DNW as they are not even been paid for yet. That the Reason Arriva and GNW and First are not putting any money into fleet apart from what they have too as they know they are not going to get any offer from TFGM apart from Scrap.

Although Go North West have refurbished many of their buses, they could replace other older GA buses such as in East Anglia and the North East. Similarly, the newest buses at First Oldham such as Enviro400s could replace older double-deckers with First.

[SF07]

RE: First Manchester
Registrations for the 6, 81 and X84 have now been updated to be cancelled on the 23rd October (a Sunday).

Also timetable changes for the 409, 425 and 426 dated 28 October (a Friday). This possibly could be August rather than October, as 28th August is a Sunday. There's also several school services registered on 1 September (saying that they're running on Bank Holidays) and cancelled on 27 October. Feel like someone hasn't been entering the changes in correctly.

PC0003680/484 Cancelled
FIRST MANCHESTER LTD
Route: Carrcote to Manchester Piccadilly via Hollinwood, Uppermill
Service number: X84
Service type: Limited Stop
Effective date: 23 Oct 2022

PC0003680/149 Cancelled
FIRST MANCHESTER LTD
Route: Manchester Piccadilly to Derker/Holts Estate via Oldham
Service number: 81 (81A)
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 23 Oct 2022

PC0003680/153 Cancelled
FIRST MANCHESTER LTD
Route: ROCHDALE to KIRKHOLT
Service number: 6
Service type: Normal Stopping
Effective date: 23 Oct 2022

https://www.vehicle-operator-licensing.s...&limit=100

[bgbus21]

RE: First Manchester
37383 MX58DWO has received the "Urban" livery with the slant at the back but retaining the "Greater Manchester" Skylines from Olympia, with this one being the first to be done. https://www.flickr.com/photos/bengleeson/52311208715

[efanmthomas]

RE: First Manchester
Enviro400 33747 has now gone into the latest pride livery.

[Michael]

RE: First Manchester
I noticed the other day first oldham have taken a contract off swans travel ....at the airport operating to amazon

[Mrboo]

RE: First Manchester

(24/09/2022 08:00)Michael Wrote:  I noticed the other day first oldham have taken a contract off swans travel ....at the airport operating to amazon

Can't confirm but it would be a national express travel solutions contract that been sub-contracted to First Manchester.