First Manchester

[iMarkeh]

RE: First Manchester
They did drop quite a few evening runs from Bolton Depot last month so possibly it is a case of hanging on to what they really want and dropping the rest. Oldham also lost the 58 but First won the route at tender so it didn't look as bad but technically, it is one less commercial route.

I think that more companies should be jumping forward to take on First routes. I think they are worried if they start going for routes, First will retaliate by flooding the routes (The only way First compete). I think until Stagecoach, Rotala and other companies wake up and see how bad of a state First is in, the routes will just keep plodding on and being gradually reduced and put out to tender.

I am struggling to see how First are making such big losses. IF it doesn't make money, why would they keep running it. Is it a case of depot costs and not the physical routes making the company loss making. Things like too many managers on high pay, too many mechanics, high fuel cost and the depots having high land costs.