First Group: General Discussion

[cainebj]

First Hampshire & Dorset have cancelled 22 service registrations with VOSA today, effective 18th November. Whether it is related to disposals, we'll have to see.
Services cancelled are:
3 Paulsgrove Portsdown Inn - South Parade Pier
5 Fareham Bus Station - Southsea
6/6A Portsmouth Hard Interchange - Tipner/ Hilsea
8/625/9 Highbury, Hawthorn Crescent - Paulsgrove, Hillsley Road
11A/11B Cosham - Paulsgrove, Hillsley Road
12 Port Solent - Farlington, Sainsburys
17/18 PORTSMOUTH The Hard and CIRCULAR
29/30 Gosport Ferry - Gosport Ferry
34 Gosport Ferry - Fareham Bus Station
35 Fareham Bus Station - Hill Head
36 Fareham Bus Station - Lee West Point
40 Portsmouth South Parade Pier - Wecock Farm Eagle Avenue
41 Portsmouth, The Hard Interchange - Clanfield, Drift Road Shops
45/45A Hambledon West Street - Portsmouth Civic Offices
53 Portsmouth - South Downs College & Porbrook
63 Fareham Bus Station - Havant Bus Station
83 Gosport Ferry - West End
85 Gosport Ferry - Fareham Bus Station
87/87A/87B Gosport Ferry - Fareham Bus Station
88/X88 Gosport Ferry - Fareham Bus Station
93/93A/95/95A Fareham Bus Station - Fareham Bus Station
X42 Gunwharf - South Downs College

 

[overthewater]

Its getting a proper bus review just like next door in Southampton, and a BRAND NEW spanking bus network will appear.

PH0006159/333 - FIRST HAMPSHIRE & DORSET LTD, BUS DEPOT, EMPRESS ROAD, SOUTHAMPTON, SO14 0JW
Registration Accepted
Starting Point: Portsmouth, Farlington Sainsburys
Finish Point: Portsmouth, Paulsgrove Shops
Via:
Service Number: 22
Service Type: Normal Stopping
Effective Date: 18-NOV-2012
Other Details: Daily.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
On to other business, take has now moved away from a number depots to new ones, IE Berkshire: http://sebusscene.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/the-good-and-not-so-good-of-first.html

I dare say the blog makes some good points, but misses the fact it still brings in a good amount of money for first.

A depot from which could be classed as the same and has been highlighted since the start-ish, Livingston depot will see, thanks to losing nearly all tender work in the area, plus the cuts to commercial services: a reduction of around at 12 PVP, with very limited evening services. This may in fact help the depot in the short term to help relieve vehicle shortages. It does beg the question as it continues to be said the depot just breaking even on good days, PVP age is not good and there plans to replace / move all the Scanny deckers away to other depots with Ex London older stock replacing the, has that not happened else alright?

First really need to get its act in gear if there really hope to raise the £100million

 

[MK Tom]

Is this to do with the sell-off or is it them losing the war they've just had with BlueStar?

 

[overthewater]

Is this to do with the sell-off or is it them losing the war they've just had with BlueStar?

As said it could be neither and it could be a brand new network on the same scale as Southampton,

 

[Scania3379man]

Sorry to hear people lost the route service in Hamps and Dorset area...i think that wrong. what if people or school boy/girls want a bus to going home on hamps/dorset bus service area. I feel sorry for them.

Thank you,
Martyn

First Hampshire & Dorset have cancelled 22 service registrations with VOSA today, effective 18th November. Whether it is related to disposals, we'll have to see.
Services cancelled are:
3 Paulsgrove Portsdown Inn - South Parade Pier
5 Fareham Bus Station - Southsea
6/6A Portsmouth Hard Interchange - Tipner/ Hilsea
8/625/9 Highbury, Hawthorn Crescent - Paulsgrove, Hillsley Road
11A/11B Cosham - Paulsgrove, Hillsley Road
12 Port Solent - Farlington, Sainsburys
17/18 PORTSMOUTH The Hard and CIRCULAR
29/30 Gosport Ferry - Gosport Ferry
34 Gosport Ferry - Fareham Bus Station
35 Fareham Bus Station - Hill Head
36 Fareham Bus Station - Lee West Point
40 Portsmouth South Parade Pier - Wecock Farm Eagle Avenue
41 Portsmouth, The Hard Interchange - Clanfield, Drift Road Shops
45/45A Hambledon West Street - Portsmouth Civic Offices
53 Portsmouth - South Downs College & Porbrook
63 Fareham Bus Station - Havant Bus Station
83 Gosport Ferry - West End
85 Gosport Ferry - Fareham Bus Station
87/87A/87B Gosport Ferry - Fareham Bus Station
88/X88 Gosport Ferry - Fareham Bus Station
93/93A/95/95A Fareham Bus Station - Fareham Bus Station
X42 Gunwharf - South Downs College

 

[overthewater]

Sorry to hear people lost the route service in Hamps and Dorset area...i think that wrong. what if people or school boy/girls want a bus to going home on hamps/dorset bus service area. I feel sorry for them.

Thank you,
Martyn

Remember the full picture is not out yet and we should see over the next couple of days replacements for most things, we hope...

 

[Pyromaniac]

I have read on another forum that this is part of a big Portsmouth shake up (and some Fareham/Gosport changes) along the lines of the Southampton shake up not so long ago.

There will be a big article in the local The News tomorrow so you can always purchase that.

However full details will be revealed on VOSA soon, however expect a Route Zero .

 

[Volvodart]

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/hampshire/travel_news/service_updates/?item=6141&conf=0

 

[overthewater]

http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/hampshire/travel_news/service_updates/?item=6141&conf=0

What a shame the Head office in Aberdeen does not follow those good ideas!

 

[pompeyfan]

I have read on another forum that this is part of a big Portsmouth shake up (and some Fareham/Gosport changes) along the lines of the Southampton shake up not so long ago.

There will be a big article in the local The News tomorrow so you can always purchase that.

However full details will be revealed on VOSA soon, however expect a Route Zero .

Hello Sir... how's the eyebrows?

 

[Pyromaniac]

Hello Sir... how's the eyebrows?

Wrong forum .

 

[Ivo]

Has a route 0 ever been done before? It strikes me as being rather odd...

 

[Pyromaniac]

Has a route 0 ever been done before? It strikes me as being rather odd...

Not to my limited knowledge, although it will actually be displayed as Zero on destination displays.

 

[tbtc]

Has a route 0 ever been done before? It strikes me as being rather odd...

We used to have Bus Zero in Sheffield - a ten minute minibus service catering to Students on a Wednesday - Saturday evening, going past various bars/ clubs - it was a great concept (when Mainline used to have innovations, before being taken over by First).

Apart from that, I can't think of one?

Of course the 00 would be a Dasterdly number for a service

 

[Tomonthetrain]

Why route Zero though?

 

[bb21]

Has a route 0 ever been done before? It strikes me as being rather odd...

Zero? hock:

They are already widely used by First buses in the rear display to indicate that the bus is off-duty.

 

[Pyromaniac]

They are already widely used by First buses in the rear display to indicate that the bus is off-duty.

Yes the number "0" is used on First buses to signify being not in service but in this case I understood "Zero" will be displayed at the route number on the vehicle.

Cheers

PT

 

[robertclark125]

Or it may explain how much is in the coffers of a depot or operations.......

 

[MK Tom]

Has the closure of First Northampton already started? If not, can any locals explain the attached that I saw today to me? Seen at around 3PM on a Saturday.

 

[overthewater]

Has the closure of First Northampton already started? If not, can any locals explain the attached that I saw today to me? Seen at around 3PM on a Saturday.

Nothing new there

Years ago Stagecoach operated the Sunday service on the route before First expanded their Sunday operates

 

[MK Tom]

Nothing new there

Years ago Stagecoach operated the Sunday service on the route before First expanded their Sunday operates

Yeah but they didn't operate the Saturday service last time I checked... so what's going on?!?!?!

 

[overthewater]

Yeah but they didn't operate the Saturday service last time I checked... so what's going on?!?!?!

Did you ask the driver if he was in actual service? or if the driver had put any old sign up?

Turns out stagecoach still does one week day Journey on the 4, so buses have to have it up but still was that bus in service? Stupid Q I know http://www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/...ans/Documents/Bus Timetables/FN-4-Oct2011.pdf

 

[MK Tom]

I can't say for sure - but why else would it be set to that service?

I think the only reason SC run that 6AM journey is because there's need for a journey that's earlier than First are willing to run.

 

[overthewater]

There could be a number of reason why it was up on the sign, driver was changing his sign and he never pushed the right button? stagecoach has nothing reg for a Saturday so could not operate it or there would be in real trouble :P

SO as volvo has said, We are not entering the second half of "First financial year" Questions will be, Has First made any progress? I would like to know what else is in the pipe line to help get its debt down?

It now seems Aberdeen is on course for strikes:

* http://www.eveningexpress.co.uk/Article.aspx/2953885
* http://news.stv.tv/north/192388-aberdeen-first-bus-drivers-planning-strike-in-run-up-to-christmas/

 

[YorkshireRider]

The 12 plate olympic buses appear to have arrived in Leeds, and all in the new Leeds livery, the big difference to other Leeds buses is less seats downstairs but more room for pushchairs or standing. They also have leather seating. Quite nice really.

 

[robertclark125]

One friend of mine claims, though it's from rumours he's heard from his official bus gen source that Wigan is up for sale, and that Rotala, and a couple of others, are in the frame to buy it. As I've mentioned already, First has recently resited the Wigan depot to a new and more modern location. So, why the hell would they do all that to dispose of it, possibly cheaply?

 

[overthewater]

One friend of mine claims, though it's from rumours he's heard from his official bus gen source that Wigan is up for sale, and that Rotala, and a couple of others, are in the frame to buy it. As I've mentioned already, First has recently resited the Wigan depot to a new and more modern location. So, why the hell would they do all that to dispose of it, possibly cheaply?

i have no idea, but it could raise alot of money? I would still place a bet on a number of dead end places such as FSE, Northampton, Chester and one other place.

 

[WatcherZero]

It was compulsory purchased by the council so a dual carriage could be built, thats why theyve moved depot.

 

[Geeves]

The new depot in Wigan was already standing as it used to be home to Shearings/Timeline (remember them?). Timelines old Optare Excels are still in service with First today so they have come full circle via various Greater Manchester depots and ended up back in their original home!

 

[Volvodart]

There was conference call for analysts and investors with the new Firstgroup Finance Director today (on the release of the Pre-Close Trading Update for the six months to 30 September 2012). There is only currently an audio of it on the Firstgroup website, but a transcript should appear sometime:-

http://www.firstgroup.com/corporate/investors/presentations.php

Most of the analysts asked about UK Bus and the following is what was said about the disposals. The Finance Director referred to the £100 million disposal programme and said that they were in a number of discussions with a number of people. There was interest. He was cautious on the exact timing. They were confident of achieving the programme. It may be in future years.

The transcript is now available on the above link.