Warrington's Own Buses

[iMarkeh]

RE: WBT Network Warrington

(02/12/2017 22:42)Bevan Price Wrote:  They need more than that - they need a lot of money. It is foolhardy to expand too much unless you have plenty of spare money. Just look at the number of small independent operators that have got into trouble, and ceased operations, because they tried to expand too far, too soon.

Either maintenance standard decline, or operations become unreliable, and they get an invite to the traffic commissioners, or they run out of money and cannot get finance to continue.

Yes, you need money and I get that side of things. I mean if someone wanted to expand onto a route, it can easilly be done if you have the money. I never said anything about expanding quickly or too far, I just said there are routes that can be jumped on quickly and make money. If a company was in a position to expand, the routes would be easy to register and make money.

(02/12/2017 23:04)Mayneway Wrote:  Fairbrothers have had 'issues' with the TC recently haven't they?? I wouldn't think NW worry to much about them as there's only so much Fairbrothers can do really. Don't think they would get a VA increase anyway.

Problem with Mr Fairbrother is he comes across as somewhat lazy. Seen him ask his loyal passengers so many times what they want and it's always the same evening and Sunday buses yet nothing comes of it. If your going to take on NW do it properly!
The other issue is the appearance of his fleet. Last time I was in Warrington (in the summer) the fleet was a mismatch of liveries and them god arful destination boards in the window.

Now, I wouldn't say it is being lazy. For the duties Mr Fairbrother has so far, it is really easy to have just one driver on all day and take him off for breaks. By the time they have done schools before and after, the driving hours are a little low to go back to service work for such a length of time. IT would require more drivers and also some bosses like to head home and rest easy knowing all the buses are in the depot. When buses are on the road, anything can happen like breakdowns etc. If you don't have someone in the office at that time, the boss would be called. Yes it is a part of business but if Mr Fairbrother doesn't think he can make the money or doesn't think it is worth the hassle running later, that is his decision. Though yes it would help competition and stuff. The schools alone could probably not far off keep Fairbrothers afloat. I think the service runs are just topping up profits or possibly schools make just under the 'break even' line so service again tops it up. I know schools make a lot of money. He can't do earlier really due to the schools which then makes the evenings useless as people will already have returns on Network Warrington.
I do agree about the livery and destination board side of things. I think that could look better but then is that price you pay for cheaper fares? Cheaper fares, cheaper buses. The more money he puts in, the more he needs to make then upping prices.

(02/12/2017 23:22)T42 PVM Wrote:  Fairbrothers only have 8 Ops Disks now after they problems with the TC so i dont think they will be growing anytime soon, I cant blame him for not starting evening and Sunday Buses as Network Warringtons are dead! I do however find it lazy that he is not able to paint all his Buses into one Livery it looks a mess

I also feel that Link Network will expand again soon, my gut feeling is it will be on an Arriva route but it might be one that runs part way along a Network Warrington route

Link Network may expand, they may not... I haven't seen anything about ops disks being increased. I know it takes 3 months for them and nothing has been on N+Ps. Only way it could expand is earlier, later and weekends. Unsure what position they are in to expand but I guess like the 110 you mean, against Arriva but NW runs along the route. I suppose that is a wait and see.

I have heard NW are after the 329 and 360. Truth or rumor, only a few people know (bosses at NW). If it is true, it will be interesting to see what happens.