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More rental buses for HTL! I think they need to calm down a bit personally, otherwise they'll end up like Supertravel. Good on them for spreading their wings and expanding though!

(13/06/2012 16:41)V671 DVU Wrote: [ -> ]I think they need to calm down a bit personally, otherwise they'll end up like Supertravel.

That's not a fair statement to make when there's no real knowledge of HTL's current finances and/or Supertravel's finances upon closure. They're two different companies with many different factors affecting their respective operations and finances.

However, Supertravel got into financial difficulties due to them, basically, getting too big for their boots. I understand that they were completely different companies in pretty much all ways. To be honest, it was a rather daft statement as HTL must be doing well financially if they can afford all these new/rental buses.

I'm not saying that Supertravel's rapid expansion had no effect upon their demise but I doubt it was the sole reason - I'd be hugely surprised if there weren't other contributing factors both fleet and office related.

I think what Luke means is HTLs ambition in expanding is reminiscent of Supertravel and the success they had in tenders. As you say speculating on finances isn't really a great idea, but its nice to see HTL gaining yet another tender. Be interesting to see how their fleet reacts to wins of tenders like this, no doubt the SPD and/or the Solo are taken off SORN.
Wonder if theres more tenders to come!

Edit: Ignore that first bit, I was beaten to it :P

Looking at the timetable for route 211 is has a PVR of just 1 so only one extra bus would be required at HTL, supposing there isn't already capacity to allow for this.

I'm not sure that S reg Solo is likely to be used again any time soon, it doesn't seem to have been out anytime in the last 5-6 months that I'm aware of, however who knows.

With regards to Supertravel I think it was more the opposite that had a major impact, in that between 2005-11 they seemed to lose the majority of the South Liverpool contracts which were on its doorstep so the ones they could run most efficiently. The first losses seemed to be routes 176/7 (due to Arriva commercialising them) and then as most other routes came up they seemed to lose out too. Still a big shame to have lost Supertravel but at least the likes of HTL, Cumfybus, Ace Travel, Eazibus etc are still local companies covering the majority of the Merseytravel contracts in Liverpool.

So the question is when HTL's tenders come up they have to be in a position to retain them or they will struggle unless they go down the commercialising of some of them services.

I can tell u that it wasnt just financial difficulties that led to supertravels demise due to me knowing the supervisors and managment i was told in full detail to what happened at supertravel behind the scenes and expanding to far out the comfort zone was just the tip of the iceberg.

correct, there is more than meets the eye with both companies and that's the good thing. I would like to make a comment with HTL and that is to look at fixing a bus for this new tender and not LOAN yet another bus but time will tell

It would well be the tender for route 211 specifies Euro3 or even Euro4 plus emissions vehicles, neither the S reg Solo or Y reg Dart SLF/ALX200 would comply with these - The ALX200 is too big anyway!