Just seen 2 blue diamond solos heading atherton direction through leigh
YJ56 AUG
YJ56 AUH
(02/03/2015 16:06)motormayhem1 Wrote: [ -> ]I still say arriva should of bought slt out to increase there presence in greater manchaster and combine bolton and slt together to make one depot but they have missed out now.
Yeah I'm surprised Arriva hasn't been looking at SLT too as it's a good fit between the substantial operations in St Helens and the much smaller ones in Bolton. Be interesting to see if Rotola operate it similarly to Diamond Bus in the West Midlands and could they possibly even use it as a springboard to takeover Arriva's Bolton operations which to me seem a bit small and a remote from the core operations in Merseyside/West Lancs/Cheshire. Interesting times.
(03/03/2015 11:22)james solomon Wrote: [ -> ]D&G some how nabbed the 64 plate enviros off SLT before the sale seems a wise move
Rotala probably turned down the 64 plates in order to reduce the purchase price of the business. They do not have massive financial resources like Stagecoach etc. When they bought Preston Bus they financed a lot of it through hire purchase. They may well have done the same with SLT.
They also rejected some 3/4 year's old Scania / Esteems from Prestin to bring the price down as well as a few newer Solos
They've made quite a success of Preston, even taking some tendered work off Holmeswood and Stagecoach, and have expanded into tendered work into Blackpool. So, they look keen to do the same in Manchester.
(03/03/2015 20:20)robertclark125 Wrote: [ -> ]They've made quite a success of Preston, even taking some tendered work off Holmeswood and Stagecoach, and have expanded into tendered work into Blackpool. So, they look keen to do the same in Manchester.
This is what makes me think they will expand into other parts of Manchester. It will certainly spice things up espically as since D&G took over SLT it seemed to go a little stagnant until of course they recently won these tenders.
Will Stagecoach, First and Arriva be at all worried at this acquisition?
Arriva are small time in manchester and dont look to bothered about manchester area or else they would of been determined to buy into the market but have sat back and let first and stagecoach take that area as if they wanted to be in manchester they could of bought the likes of finglands,jpt,bluebird and slt before others took over but never.
Stagecoach and first will be the ones that will be looking at them as if rotala want to get into manchester then they may look at routes from wigan/bolton and leigh into manchester city centre etc which arriva don't have.
(04/03/2015 08:00)motormayhem1 Wrote: [ -> ]Arriva are small time in manchester and dont look to bothered about manchester area or else they would of been determined to buy into the market but have sat back and let first and stagecoach take that area as if they wanted to be in manchester they could of bought the likes of finglands,jpt,bluebird and slt before others took over but never.
Stagecoach and first will be the ones that will be looking at them as if rotala want to get into manchester then they may look at routes from wigan/bolton and leigh into manchester city centre etc which arriva don't have.
I only really follow what's going on buses wise in the North West, but do Rotala compete much with Travel West Midlands or do they operate along side each other similar to how First and Stagecoach used to be in Manchester.
I've always been impressed with what Rotala have done with Preston Bus, but it's obvious they don't have the funds to invest in a younger fleet straight away but the fleet looks very modern.
Not sure about rotala myself but what they have done with preston bus as impressed me as personally i don't think having a young fleet matters so long as the maintenance is at a good standard and is dda compliant when it needs to be then all passengers want is a warm , safe bus that turns up on time or doesn't break down .
(04/03/2015 09:58)Dentonian Wrote: [ -> ]Remember, First and Stagecoach are successors to the "incumbant" GMN/GMS in Greater Manchester, with Arriva only appearing by acquisition (Bee Line, Blue Bus etc). This SLT deal has come out of the blue, but as regards the others:
Finglands: Nothing was broadcast at the time, but my information was that it was Arriva NOT Stagecoach, who were behind the objections to the MMC forcing the inquiry into First's acquisition.
Bluebird: As with Maynes, the Operator wanted to quit the business and approached Stagecoach. ie. These were far from "hostile" take overs.
Jpt: It was literally who was best placed at very short notice to save the services when it became clear Jpt were to cease trading.
I would doubt Rotala would make serious commercial inroads "eastwards" as First have Operational rights to the Leigh Guided Busway, and Reregulation is (supposedly) around the corner.
Im not trying to say they where hostile or anything as just saying if arriva was intrested in manchester then they would of approaced the independents and try and buy them out but arriva relise stagecoach and first basically have manchester wrapped up already due to them buying the old GM buses operations.