Rotala / Diamond Bus (North West)

[freetoview33]

I think now it is confirmed Rotala is buying First Manchester's Bolton depot it is now a good time to have a new thread dedicated just to Rotala.

 

[freetoview33]

First Bus Press Release

First Bus has today announced its intention to sell the Bolton bus depot and operations to Rotala PLC.

The intended sale would include the Bolton depot site, with 18 bus services transferring across to Rotala. The sale is expected to complete in the next few months and more than 500 employees who work for the Bolton bus operation will transfer to Rotala.

First Manchester will continue to operate existing local bus services from the Bolton site until the sale is completed and customers should see no changes to their daily journeys throughout this period of transition. Going forward, First Manchester will focus its attention on the remaining bus services that primarily operate from the Oldham bus depot. Vantage services will also continue to be operated by First Manchester.

Following a review of its Manchester operations completed last year, First Bus took the decision to reduce exposure in Greater Manchester due to the current uncertainties in that particular market. Today’s news also follows the recent sale of First Manchester’s Queens Road depot.

Speaking about today’s announcement, Giles Fearnley, Managing Director of First Bus, said: “I’d like to thank our employees for their continued hard work to deliver the best experience possible for our customers in Greater Manchester. Today’s announcement does not reflect on the effort, commitment or individual performance of our Bolton employees and we will be supporting them fully as they transfer to their new employer.”

 

[Bletchleyite]

Interesting. What does that leave - Oldham? Probably up for offers too?

Is it going to be worth them keeping just Vantage? I bet Stagey would happily have that.

I guess Rotala will be able to have economies of scale with (relatively) nearby Preston Bus.

 

[overthewater]

There is more talk of the sale in the First group thread

 

[winston270twm]

Interesting. What does that leave - Oldham? Probably up for offers too?

Is it going to be worth them keeping just Vantage? I bet Stagey would happily have that.

I guess Rotala will be able to have economies of scale with (relatively) nearby Preston Bus.

Vantage isn't worth having on First Manchester contract terms, that's why Rotala haven't taken it.

Bolton is becoming the new Rotala NW HQ, the existing Diamond Bus NW Manchester depots at Eccles & Atherton are all being retained.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

Interesting. What does that leave - Oldham? Probably up for offers too?

Is it going to be worth them keeping just Vantage? I bet Stagey would happily have that.

I guess Rotala will be able to have economies of scale with (relatively) nearby Preston Bus.

Rotala has their Diamond operations even closer (former SLT).

They couldn’t novate the Vantage agreement

 

[freetoview33]

So after this transaction goes through thete will be 10 Rotala Depots.

 

[Bwsbro]

Vantage isn't worth having on First Manchester contract terms, that's why Rotala haven't taken it.

Bolton is becoming the new Rotala NW HQ, the existing Diamond Bus NW Manchester depots at Eccles & Atherton are all being retained.

Vantage not allowed to be sold. If First want to get rid of Vantage it has to be retendered

 

[DaveLondon]

Although Vantage was originally included it became apparent that TFGM would only agree a change of operator if the services were retendered. This led to the delayed announcement

 

[winston270twm]

Vantage not allowed to be sold. If First want to get rid of Vantage it has to be retendered

As DaveLondon said below, Vantage was originally included in the deal, but with a break/re-tender clauses, as the terms First agreed were losing Bolton Depot money. If First are stuck with it, that can be only a good thing.

 

[Anthony ross]

I wonder how belong we see the heanor depot of your bus come under the rotala brand given the fact that the Dunn brothers own your bus

 

[winston270twm]

I wonder how belong we see the heanor depot of your bus come under the rotala brand given the fact that the Dunn brothers own your bus

The Dunn brother's don't own Yourbus, only Scott Dunn owns Yourbus, he's not been involved with Rotala/Diamond Bus for sometime & lives in Australia.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

The Dunn brother's don't own Yourbus, only Scott Dunn owns Yourbus, he's not been involved with Rotala/Diamond Bus for sometime & lives in Australia.

This is something that people seem to be confused about. The two brothers went their own ways....

Simon is the man behind Rotala

Scott is the man behind Yourbus (and many interests in Australia)

It would appear that the creation of a Rotala operating centre based on Heanor was to have sufficient discs in readiness for Bolton

 

[WillPS]

There was definitely some business relationship between the two companies at some point though.

Some early YourBus services had "operated on behalf of Rotala plc." on the timetables.

 

[Robertj21a]

There was definitely some business relationship between the two companies at some point though.

Some early YourBus services had "operated on behalf of Rotala plc." on the timetables.

That surprises me (I thought the brothers didn't get on with each other). I can't find a YourBus timetable with a reference to Rotala, but I probably don't have all of them.

 

[WillPS]

That surprises me (I thought the brothers didn't get on with each other). I can't find a YourBus timetable with a reference to Rotala, but I probably don't have all of them.

Nor can I, but it was definitely there. I think it was the 81...

 

[winston270twm]

There was definitely some business relationship between the two companies at some point though.

Some early YourBus services had "operated on behalf of Rotala plc." on the timetables.

In the early days of setting up Yourbus, Scott Dunn was still the MD of Diamond Bus in the West Midlands, the initial Yourbus fleet of Dart SLF/Plaxton's were prepped & repainted at Rotala HQ prior to be delivered to Heanor. On occassions Yourbus Scania/Wright operated on loan to Diamond Bus.

There's no relationship between the two brothers or companies now.

 

[ACBest]

I’ve seen a staff memo which mentions the possibility of reopening Rusholme Depot as an operating base for Vantage, Yellow School Buses, tendered services and the Training School, all of which aren’t included in the sale to Rotala.

 

[TheGrandWazoo]

I’ve seen a staff memo which mentions the possibility of reopening Rusholme Depot as an operating base for Vantage, Yellow School Buses, tendered services and the Training School, all of which aren’t included in the sale to Rotala.

It’s already been posted on the main First thread

 

[ACBest]

It’s already been posted on the main First thread

Oops, my apologies!

 

[darloscott]

Worth pointing out that Rotala are currently taking delivery of a batch of mini Streetlites for the Heathrow operation for the HotelHoppa services

 

[Robertj21a]

Worth pointing out that Rotala are currently taking delivery of a batch of mini Streetlites for the Heathrow operation for the HotelHoppa services

They seem oddly attracted to Streetlites, presumably due to cost and standardisation. There's many others not too enamoured with Streetlites.

 

[nctx]

They buy Streetlites as Close Asset finance own 13% of the stock (around £4m pounds worth). And they sell Streetlites.

 

[freetoview33]

They seem oddly attracted to Streetlites, presumably due to cost and standardisation. There's many others not too enamoured with Streetlites.

I guess they are fine for small trips around Heathrow!

 

[njlawley]

Bolton is becoming the new Rotala NW HQ, the existing Diamond Bus NW Manchester depots at Eccles & Atherton are all being retained.

Apparently Atherton is closing, with the work being split between Bolton and Eccles (according to another forum). That would be a fair bit of dead mileage for routes running in Wigan!

 

[winston270twm]

Apparently Atherton is closing, with the work being split between Bolton and Eccles (according to another forum). That would be a fair bit of dead mileage for routes running in Wigan!

Yes, that's correct. Plans have since changed as Bolton now comes with less work & spare capacity due to only First Bolton's commercial services being taken on.

 

[Bwsbro]

Worth pointing out that Rotala are currently taking delivery of a batch of mini Streetlites for the Heathrow operation for the HotelHoppa services

To be fair The Enviro 200’s recieved from National express are in such bad state, that they were in desperate need for replacement. These new vehicles has 28 seats, with the front seats replaced with luggage racks

Current registrations of new vehciles delivered are SM19KKP/R/S/T/O. All vehicles carry the new Hotel hoppa livery and have white font on the destination blind

 

[winston270twm]

They buy Streetlites as Close Asset finance own 13% of the stock (around £4m pounds worth). And they sell Streetlites.

That's nothing to do with why they buy Streetlites.

 

[bussnapperwm]

There was definitely some business relationship between the two companies at some point though.

Some early YourBus services had "operated on behalf of Rotala plc." on the timetables.

In the early days of setting up Yourbus, Scott Dunn was still the MD of Diamond Bus in the West Midlands, the initial Yourbus fleet of Dart SLF/Plaxton's were prepped & repainted at Rotala HQ prior to be delivered to Heanor. On occassions Yourbus Scania/Wright operated on loan to Diamond Bus.

There's no relationship between the two brothers or companies now.

At one stage Diamond Darts appeared on the Y81/Y82 with the Scanias appearing on the 417 (in fact, yourbus dart 1006 - https://images.app.goo.gl/1ZH783SpJwwjUzLP8 - carried a early version of what Diamonds route branding would look like!

This 2010 article provided an interesting viewpoint on the Yourbus/Rotala article.

The direct connection between Diamond Bus and Your Bus is Scott Dunn - the MD of Diamond, who uses staff at Diamond to provide various back office functions and I can assure you that such work, as well as the loan of vehicles, is charged to Your Bus at the correct rates.

 

[winston270twm]

At one stage Diamond Darts appeared on the Y81/Y82 with the Scanias appearing on the 417 (in fact, yourbus dart 1006 - https://images.app.goo.gl/1ZH783SpJwwjUzLP8 - carried a early version of what Diamonds route branding would look like!

This 2010 article provided an interesting viewpoint on the Yourbus/Rotala article.

Yes, trainbasher - I'm aware. As per the message you've quoted, the link what 'Scott Dunn' who was still MD at Diamond Bus whilst setting up Yourbus personally. Again, John Everill was Diamond Bus marketing man when Scott Dunn was still there, that's why the branding was the same style.

The Dunn brothers don't really get on / no longer have a lot to do with each other.