First Manchester

[acocker96]

RE: First Manchester

(04/02/2019 15:55)Brickmill Wrote:  42941/4/5 are all WA56 OAx.

Right, I haven’t a first fleetlist for a long time. I didn’t notice the Darr long enough to see it’s fleet number but if one is in service still the rest probably are.

[Mayneway]

RE: First Manchester
One of the Darts out today in Ashton on 346/348/350's.

[stait.john@hotmail.co.uk]

RE: First Manchester
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/201...s-network/

[NorthernCounties]

RE: First Manchester

(04/02/2019 21:17)stait.john@hotmail.co.uk Wrote:  https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/201...s-network/

Rumor mill working overtime again. Wouldn't be surprised if they sell but the story is the same as usual...."sources say..."

[Mrboo]

RE: First Manchester

(04/02/2019 21:31)NorthernCounties Wrote:  Rumor mill working overtime again. Wouldn't be surprised if they sell but the story is the same as usual...."sources say..."

Does say

Hundreds of buses across three depots in Bury, Oldham and Bolton, will be sold to rival operators.

Well They would be Selling Manchester / Oldham / Bolton if they do.
.

A FirstGroup spokesman said: "We don’t comment on market rumours or speculation. We keep all bus services, depots and the business portfolio under constant review so we can be responsive to changes in market conditions.”

But going by the 180/184 of late they been putting Streetlights on it so demand is down to point the are happy to keep the streetlight on all day when there bigger buses on other routes. they need to put money into Oldham as they are short on buses so maybe they are looking at selling well of course they are but it depends if they get an offer worth doing the deal with. But they have to point it does look like they are winding First Manchester down with most of the admin moved to Yorkshire so they could sell any depot now.

[Mayneway]

RE: First Manchester

(04/02/2019 21:31)NorthernCounties Wrote:  Rumor mill working overtime again. Wouldn't be surprised if they sell but the story is the same as usual...."sources say..."

The losses aren't hear say though.
Could rusholme have been closed to 'tidy' things up ahead of a sale.

[mikestone]

RE: First Manchester
I wonder if this has been fed to the Telegraph by first to see what the other groups offer, without contravening stock exchange rules?

[Mayneway]

RE: First Manchester

(04/02/2019 21:43)Mrboo Wrote:  Does say

Hundreds of buses across three depots in Bury, Oldham and Bolton, will be sold to rival operators.

Well They would be Selling Manchester / Oldham / Bolton if they do.
.

A FirstGroup spokesman said: "We don’t comment on market rumours or speculation. We keep all bus services, depots and the business portfolio under constant review so we can be responsive to changes in market conditions.”

But going by the 180/184 of late they been putting Streetlights on it so demand is down to point the are happy to keep the streetlight on all day when there bigger buses on other routes. they need to put money into Oldham as they are short on buses so maybe they are looking at selling well of course they are but it depends if they get an offer worth doing the deal with. But they have to point it does look like they are winding First Manchester down with most of the admin moved to Yorkshire so they could sell any depot now.

Same on the 409 though. They seem to throw anything onto it.

[Brickmill]

RE: First Manchester

(04/02/2019 21:43)Mrboo Wrote:  Does say

Hundreds of buses across three depots in Bury, Oldham and Bolton, will be sold to rival operators.

Well They would be Selling Manchester / Oldham / Bolton if they do.
.

A FirstGroup spokesman said: "We don’t comment on market rumours or speculation. We keep all bus services, depots and the business portfolio under constant review so we can be responsive to changes in market conditions.”

But going by the 180/184 of late they been putting Streetlights on it so demand is down to point the are happy to keep the streetlight on all day when there bigger buses on other routes. they need to put money into Oldham as they are short on buses so maybe they are looking at selling well of course they are but it depends if they get an offer worth doing the deal with. But they have to point it does look like they are winding First Manchester down with most of the admin moved to Yorkshire so they could sell any depot now.

Not sure vehicle allocation is a good indicator. First Manchester's reputation (compared with Stagecoach) has been bad since they bought GMN nearly a quarter of a century ago. Besides, Stagecoach's vehicle allocation is hardly a model of professionalism.

[Raawwwrrr!]

RE: First Manchester
Firstbus are making losses and will shortly have to replace a mass fleet of 2005-2006 plated Volvo Wright Eclipse at all the depots. The cost of which won’t be cheap.