Diamond Bus North West

[gilesbus1]

RE: Diamond Bus North West

(09/07/2019 23:21)Winston Wrote:  No it doesn't. Bolton's overheads are covered by it's existing commercial routes, come August it will have spare capacity for approx. 60 buses, thus Atherton's fleet is now being absorbed in to Bolton with little increase to Bolton's overhead, whilst completely eliminating the overhead and running costs associated with Atherton.

What Rotala are doing with Atherton, is what they have done with a number of West Midlands independent operators they've acquired over recent years, i.e. absorbed those businesses in to existing depots. Thus keeping depots at/near full capacity.

You also need to consider that with the addition of First Bolton commercial routes, Diamond NW now has a much more comprehensive network of routes covering a larger area of Manchester, with day / week & month passes being far more attractive to passengers. Also, it will bring far more higher frequency / commercial routes to Diamond NW, which *should* be earning decent money & help subsidize the poorer performing routes indirectly, without the need to simply cut them.

The First withdrawal's were not only due to routes being marginal, but also due to driver shortages and cutting them was seen as an easy way to remedy those problems.

Well lets see how long they last then, when the previous Atherton Depot was closed most stuff in Leigh lasted weeks before First Manchester was withdrawing them, and seeing as you've recruited the same manager, exactly the same will happen, not to mention First Manchester's idiot decision to move all there local services in Leigh into Rushome its no longer car use is growing around Wigan is it?

Quite frankly both Diamond and First are stitching us up for poor service locally and by the way stuff your buses I'll be using my car in future? I certainly don't have time to stand and wait around after a bus has broken down for a replacement to be brought from Eccles or Rusholme, that is what I totally object to, Rusholme should have been demolished months ago and that Woodern Monstrosity at Eccles you can hardly call a garage is hardly a suitable operating garage. Plus neither of them are anywhere near Atherton or Leigh. Then if the pair of you haven't stopped punishing the People of South Wigan you decide to steel and deprive us of our electric buses for the 582 and fail to spell out how you will replace them and with what??? or is that another service your planning to withdraw or perhaps sell on to Stagecoach or Jim Stones???? seeing as that is all that is left.

I don't care if stuff is operated from Bolton but not Eccles or Rusholme its outrageous.