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Post by duncan on Apr 9, 2013 10:45:20 GMT
From First website.
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Post by trolleybus1521 on Apr 9, 2013 16:37:20 GMT
Copied from LOTS magazine today:- The following statement has been posted on the First Group website this morning:
"As part of FirstGroup's stated strategy to reposition its UK Bus division to focus on those areas that offer the greatest potential for growth, it has today announced the sale of eight of its London bus depots.
The bus depots at Alperton, Greenford, Hayes, Uxbridge and Willesden Junction, along with 494 vehicles and approximately 1,700 employees, will transfer to Metroline on completion of the sale for a gross consideration of £57.5m. Metroline is an existing London bus operator and wholly-owned subsidiary of Comfort DelGro Corporation Limited, a Singapore-incorporated transportation company.
The bus depots at Atlas Road, Lea Interchange and Westbourne Park, along with approximately 400 vehicles and 1,500 employees, will transfer to Transit Systems Group, an Australian transport operator, on completion of the sale for a gross consideration of £21.3m.
Both disposals are subject to the necessary regulatory approvals including contractual obligations with Transport for London.
Commenting, Giles Fearnley, First’s Managing Director UK Bus, said:
“The sale of these operations marks further progress in our programme to reposition our UK Bus portfolio, recover performance and equip the business to achieve sustainable revenue and patronage growth. Our strategy is to focus on those areas of the country which offer the greatest potential and while we have been a key operator in London for many years, our focus going forward is on the deregulated market outside of the capital.
“Today’s decision is a business driven one and does not reflect on the effort, commitment or individual performance of our employees in London and we will be supporting them fully as they transfer to their new employers. Over the years we have enjoyed a constructive relationship with Transport for London and look forward to working closely with them to ensure this transfer goes ahead as smoothly as possible.”
Ends
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Post by dougie on Apr 9, 2013 19:36:44 GMT
I think that the important thin (from an SY perspective) is that this should mean the end of "the provinces" relying on cascaded London vehicles - so that hopefully there will be no more Tridents (or other equivalent knackered buses from London).
That can surely only be a good thing?
(well, apart from the fact that we may now get cascaded buses from Leeds/ Manchester/ Glasgow instead, but the quality of the ex-Leeds B9s was fairly decent to this passenger)
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Post by Deleted on Apr 9, 2013 20:15:05 GMT
Slough and Bracknell are looking a bit isolated after the above changes
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Post by tofskilemons on Apr 9, 2013 21:14:19 GMT
I think that the important thin (from an SY perspective) is that this should mean the end of "the provinces" relying on cascaded London vehicles - so that hopefully there will be no more Tridents (or other equivalent knackered buses from London). That can surely only be a good thing? (well, apart from the fact that we may now get cascaded buses from Leeds/ Manchester/ Glasgow instead, but the quality of the ex-Leeds B9s was fairly decent to this passenger) Unfortunately the only thing I'd say about that is the next round of vehicles to be transferred out were B7TL Gemini's, and in a few years the early E400's would have come up for grabs. The main thing I'll be missing is the influx of more B9's if First had held on to these operations. I know that's many many many moons away (lets say another 8 years at least) but I have a rather strong hunch that they'll survive London rather well compared to anything else... |
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Post by duncan on Apr 9, 2013 22:24:34 GMT
Slough and Bracknell are looking a bit isolated after the above changes I do not see that as relevant. If they are making money they are an asset. If they are not they would have gone. What can be more isolated than Aircoach? |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2013 17:25:37 GMT
Look at this another way. Rotherham garage relies heavily on refurbishment contracts to survive. No London refurbs could spell bad news for such a big garage.
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vwd14
Inspector
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Post by vwd14 on Apr 10, 2013 18:42:22 GMT
Is there any hope that now they have raised their intended target of £80 million, that they'll buy some more deckers, and preferably B9TLs as opposed to something from Alexander Dennis? New or even cascaded B9TLs would certainly be very useful for Sheffield, we could get rid of the Tridents that way. It's a pity that the Tridents are so unreliable, I think they are a nicer bus to travel on than the B7TLs, no vibrations at idle or roaring like those buses do. It would be especially nice to see more B9TLs while they're still available - as I'm sure many of you know, the B9TL is being discontinued at the end of the year and is being replaced by a B5TL with only a 5.1 litre engine! I know the Euro 6 stock will be lighter, but a 5.1 litre engine in a double deck bus simply won't be up to the job.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 10, 2013 18:56:03 GMT
Slough and Bracknell are looking a bit isolated after the above changes I do not see that as relevant. If they are making money they are an asset. If they are not they would have gone. What can be more isolated than Aircoach? fair comment, didn't have my business head on |
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Post by The Captain on Apr 10, 2013 19:26:24 GMT
Look at this another way. Rotherham garage relies heavily on refurbishment contracts to survive. No London refurbs could spell bad news for such a big garage. Here's hoping this'll mean that the existing buses which sorely need a refurb will get done instead (it was nice that they started on the B7Ls but that seems to have fizzled). It'll be a shame if instead of refurbished London cast-offs, we get given untouched Leeds/Manchester/Glasgow cast-offs of the same age instead - say what you will about the Tridents but I'd rather catch an X-HLT than an X-VWT any day. If you are waiting for an X-HLT chances are you will be waiting a very long time. 32957 back into service this morning and was soon back in with more engine troubles. I do agree the X-VWTs are not welcoming buses. |
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jt
Driver
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Post by jt on Apr 10, 2013 22:48:46 GMT
Strange the phrase "The sell off is now complete"? was never used. Is there any hope that now they have raised their intended target of £80 million, that they'll buy some more deckers, and preferably B9TLs as opposed to something from Alexander Dennis? New or even cascaded B9TLs would certainly be very useful for Sheffield, we could get rid of the Tridents that way. Giles said last years order had a bigger DD order due to the London games, and this years order reflects what first would rather buy. I suggest keeping an eye out for next years order for the 2014 Glasgow games which will require deckers. Look at this another way. Rotherham garage relies heavily on refurbishment contracts to survive. No London refurbs could spell bad news for such a big garage. Here's hoping this'll mean that the existing buses which sorely need a refurb will get done instead (it was nice that they started on the B7Ls but that seems to have fizzled). It'll be a shame if instead of refurbished London cast-offs, we get given untouched Leeds/Manchester/Glasgow cast-offs of the same age instead - say what you will about the Tridents but I'd rather catch an X-HLT than an X-VWT any day. Rotherham never did much work of the 53 plate deckers? First could still end up buying ex london stock for dealers and outsourcing the refurb work? |
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Post by duncan on Apr 11, 2013 1:32:37 GMT
There are still a significant number of buses left in the one depot that remains in London and a large percentage of them will be coming off contract during this year.
I would anticipate a refurb programme but not necessarily involving Rotherham.
Other refurb sites are available.
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Post by duncan on Apr 11, 2013 1:33:50 GMT
Look at this another way. Rotherham garage relies heavily on refurbishment contracts to survive. No London refurbs could spell bad news for such a big garage. Maybe time to look for a smaller, cheaper site, and rid themselves of the dinosaurs from the PTE / Mainline days. |
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Post by DPL233 (33LUG) on Apr 11, 2013 7:02:41 GMT
Slough and Bracknell are looking a bit isolated after the above changes Slough & Bracknell are both a shadow of what was there when BeeLine existed, but a much stronger operation! |
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Post by The Captain on Apr 11, 2013 18:00:24 GMT
Look at this another way. Rotherham garage relies heavily on refurbishment contracts to survive. No London refurbs could spell bad news for such a big garage. Maybe time to look for a smaller, cheaper site, and rid themselves of the dinosaurs from the PTE / Mainline days. This conversations been going on since 1984......... |
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