First Manchester

[gilesbus1]

RE: First Manchester

(20/02/2019 20:54)M60lad Wrote:  Considering Go Ahead have some National Express Contracts could we in the future see some of their National Express workings overnighting at Queens Road Depot or maybe winning some of their own (Go Northwest) contracts?

I guess anything is possible, but not at this stage, lets not forget they have said no immediate growth to the business.

I think the main issue with basing National Express Contracts at Queens Road would be recruiting drivers, also not forgetting drivers here would be on a higher rate of pay than some in other places, due to the Inner City location and the issues recruiting staff in what is a prosperous city in some respects for other job opportunities which are perhaps more appealing, therefore the bid to operate contracts would possibly not be competitive enough with largely independent operators such as Selwyns which despite being part of RATP is based out of an independent and therefore has lower overheads. With larger coaches there is the issue of getting them onto Boyle Street out of what is a garage with quite a tight turn out of the garage entrance, which is why the Artics were never based there when BY closed.

Future growth might come if and when TfGM contracting becomes the norm, lets not forget though any growth at the moment would be based on spare space in Queens Road Depot so if you wanted to house loads of extra buses it just wouldn't be possible.