First Manchester

[GMBuses North]

RE: First Manchester

(28/06/2019 22:37)Winston Wrote:  I believe they will be branded Diamond NW - 2 x Volvo/Wright (30851/2) have already been painted up in DBNW two-tone blue & initially gone on loan to Preston Bus.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mjrpreston...ateposted/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/mjrpreston...ateposted/

A third 30857 was ready to go parked up in Rotala's HQ / Diamond Bus West Midlands depot last week.

I did spot a blue Diamond branded Wright Eclipse being dragged by a wrecker up the M1 yesterday afternoon... Could have been that one??

[Metroline1511]

RE: First Manchester

(18/06/2019 22:42)Bevan Price Wrote:  Is Oldham short of double-deckers ? At least two 674xx single deckers on the 409 today (18 June), and another on the 83 -- both routes seem to be normally 100% double deck when I have seen them in the last few years.

I rode an Enviro300 on route 83 one Saturday afternoon in January.

[Metroline1511]

RE: First Manchester

(27/06/2019 07:55)Gillmoss 0324 Wrote:  It will be interesting whether the Competition Commission gets involved as the existing Diamond Bus operation in Bolton/surrounding area's is fairly significant. Arriva, Stagecoach and Rosso seem a bit minor players as competitors in Bolton so maybe a bit of trading might have to happen before it all falls into place.

I assume if this is all clear Rotala will merge this into the Diamond Bus brand, could be the start of an interesting move for Rotala in the North West too.

Yep Oldham's last man standing for First and if First want to keep it and more importantly survive it might be transferred to/run by the West Yorkshire division although I reckon it will get sold off at some point although a long drawn out sale does no good to both staff and passengers in the end.

There is also Vision Bus in Bolton. As Rotala will still have fewer buses in Bolton than, for example, First on Oldham and Stagecoach in Stockport, the CMA may clear this acquisition ok.

[Metroline1511]

RE: First Manchester
As Andy Burnham has now stated a desire to go to franchising, this could influence which operators are keenest to buy First Oldham. As well as Go-Ahead and Rotala, I wonder whether RATP, owners of Selwyns, could be interested? They have National Express contracts, isolated bus tenders in the North West, many bus tenders in west London and commercial buses in Bournemouth among other operations.

[EDB325]

RE: First Manchester

(29/06/2019 10:02)Metroline1511 Wrote:  As Andy Burnham has now stated a desire to go to franchising, this could influence which operators are keenest to buy First Oldham. As well as Go-Ahead and Rotala, I wonder whether RATP, owners of Selwyns, could be interested? They have National Express contracts, isolated bus tenders in the North West, many bus tenders in west London and commercial buses in Bournemouth among other operations.

I still wouldn't rule out Transdev.

[Rodney259]

RE: First Manchester

(29/06/2019 10:02)Metroline1511 Wrote:  As Andy Burnham has now stated a desire to go to franchising, this could influence which operators are keenest to buy First Oldham. As well as Go-Ahead and Rotala, I wonder whether RATP, owners of Selwyns, could be interested? They have National Express contracts, isolated bus tenders in the North West, many bus tenders in west London and commercial buses in Bournemouth among other operations.

Given the Labour Party’s love fir state owned business RATP would seem a great idea as it is a State owned bus company like most of London buses and National rail businesses. Might as well send profits back to Berlin, Paris or Amsterdam! (Obviously, you’ve guessed, not a lover of State owned enterprises especially the craziness of foreign owned ones!)

[EDB325]

RE: First Manchester

(29/06/2019 11:20)Rodney259 Wrote:  Given the Labour Party’s love fir state owned business RATP would seem a great idea as it is a State owned bus company like most of London buses and National rail businesses. Might as well send profits back to Berlin, Paris or Amsterdam! (Obviously, you’ve guessed, not a lover of State owned enterprises especially the craziness of foreign owned ones!)

I'm quite in favour of state ownership - provided that state is the UK (obviously you've guessed that I'm staunchly pro Brexit !)

[Winston]

RE: First Manchester

(29/06/2019 07:16)GMBuses North Wrote:  I did spot a blue Diamond branded Wright Eclipse being dragged by a wrecker up the M1 yesterday afternoon... Could have been that one??

If it was original allover blue & attached to a wrecker, it was more likely heading up to a place adjacent to the Yorkshire Scrapyards for a major unit rebuild. Rotala have used that company for a number of years and know them from Dunn-Line days.

[GMBuses North]

RE: First Manchester

(29/06/2019 12:33)Winston Wrote:  If it was original allover blue & attached to a wrecker, it was more likely heading up to a place adjacent to the Yorkshire Scrapyards for a major unit rebuild. Rotala have used that company for a number of years and know them from Dunn-Line days.

Quite possibly... Just thought I'd mention it.

[Winston]

RE: First Manchester

(29/06/2019 20:46)GMBuses North Wrote:  Quite possibly... Just thought I'd mention it.

No worries, transfers are 'normally' cascaded under their own power.

Was it a blue wrecker with yellow writing like this?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/bigdan14025/42648085965