First Manchester

[P528LND]

RE: First Manchester

(25/04/2013 11:41)jimbo Wrote:  

(24/04/2013 23:08)Mayneway Wrote:  

(24/04/2013 21:28)jimbo Wrote:  Btw, quite a lot of Rochdale minibus routes are based in Oldham;
438,451,452,455,458,462... so... these can be done on old darta but yeah...
It would be nice to see a bit of variety in who runs the tenders in Oldham, as first do have a monopoly, well the 183 is partly funded... but apart from the 159 it is purely First...

There is a bit of variety in Oldham though, Stott's have the 407, Checkmate have the 418 and MCT have the 400 town shuttle service as well as the 159.
Id like to think that Stott's would and could make a big return to oldham in the future, but the problem is many of these tenders are grouped together by the big boys which puts smaller operators off going for them.

Not only that but first will run them at cost price or lose money just to pose dominance

Indeed that is true, however after what we've just seen with the 183 how long will they keep that up? The monopoly is a bit ridiculous to be honest here in Oldham, and makes me wonder how VOSA could possibly have had the audacity to investigate into the Wigan and Bluebird acquisitions...

In my opinion I don't see First replacing its minibus fleet any time soon. I imagine many others would agree on that subject :P